An active shooter left five people dead in a series of shootings throughout Denver and Lakewood, Colorado, and injured a Lakewood police officer, the Denver police chief confirmed. The shooter is also dead, bringing the death toll to six.
The gunman was identified by police as Lyndon McLeod, 47, a Colorado tattoo parlor owner turned author of violent fiction who targeted tattoo artists. You can learn more about him here.
InstagramLyndon McLeod
Agent Paul Osckel, of Lakewood public information, said in a news briefing that police were “working in conjunction with Denver Police Department on a large scale active shooter incident that ended here in Lakewood.”
The first two victims were identified by loved ones as Alicia Cardenas and Daniel Schofield (Dano Blair), who were both well-known tattoo artists. You can learn more about them here. Cardenas owned Sol Tribe Custom Tattoo and Body Piercing, the business targeted first by McLeod.
The third victim was Alyssa Maldonado, whose husband Jimmy Maldonado was wounded. Jimmy Maldonado is a body piercer at Sol Tribe. You can read about them here.
FacebookAlicia Cardenas and Dano Blair
The fourth victim is not identified; the fifth was hotel clerk Sarah Steck, authorities revealed in a news conference. A Lakewood police officer was also injured.
Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen said in the initial news briefing that there were a “series of violent incidences that we believe started in Denver…We have four significant locations where gunfire took place in the City and County of Denver.” The mayhem then continued into Lakewood, resulting in more deaths and the injury to the officer. Pazen called it a “killing spree.”
Authorities believe the spree started in Denver at a tattoo parlor, but what motivated the shooter remains under investigation, Pazen said. “We believe the suspect is no longer a threat to our community…” He did know the victims and had contact with Steck’s hotel in the past.
Authorities confirmed that the officer was alive and undergoing surgery on December 27, 2021. She is expected to survive.
Here’s what you need to know:
The Shooter Went Into the Belmar Shopping Center in Lakewood
The first incident was shortly after 5 p.m. December 27, 2021, at 1st and Broadway, Denver’s police chief said in the briefing. Two adult women were shot dead, and one adult male was injured. That was the Sol Tribe shooting that left Cardenas and Alyssa Maldonado dead and Jimmy Maldonado wounded.
Shortly thereafter, a second shooting occurred at 12th and Williams, where a man was killed. There was also an incident near 6th and Cherokee. Police believe a gun was fired, but there were no injuries, the chief said.
Denver police officers identified a vehicle associated with the incident. There was a pursuit and an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and the officers, said Pazen. The Denver police officers were not injured. After disabling the police car, the gunman fled into Lakewood, Pazen said.
John Romero, public information officer for Lakewood police, said in the news briefing that “we still have a lot of details we’re sorting out at this point.”
Just before 6 p.m., Lakewood police received a call of shots fired at a business along the 1500 block of Kipling. The victim, Schofield, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities got a description of the car and the shooter, Romero said.
A little while later, at the Belmar area, Lakewood agents identified the car. When they tried to make contact with the driver, he opened fire on Lakewood agents, who returned fire, Romero said.
The driver then fled on foot to the Belmar shopping area, where he “felony menaced another business with a firearm before retreating to the Hyatt Place,” Romero said. He then shot one of the clerks there, and it’s not clear that person’s condition, according to Romero.
The shooter fled the area again and fired at a Lakewood agent, hitting him. That agent is currently in the hospital undergoing surgery. At that time, the shooter was taken down; Romero said it’s not clear whether he was killed by police. He said authorities don’t believe there are additional safety concerns.
“Terrifying night for shoppers as the shooter fled Denver officers to the Belmar Shopping center in Lakewood. The gunman shot at officers and went into a business. He shot a clerk who is now in the hospital and an officer. No word on a motive,” Denver journalist Jessica Porter wrote on Twitter.
Lakewood police wrote, “LPD working an officer involved shooting in Belmar area. More info to come, including media staging area.” They added, “Media. Please stage at Olive Garden parking lot at Wadsworth and Alameda.”
Denver police wrote at 6:43 p.m. on December 27, 2021, “ALERT: #Denver officers are investigating a shooting in the area of 1st and Broadway. 2 victims have been located with unknown extent of injuries. No arrests at this time. Updates will be posted as they become available.”
Video Captured Christmas Music Playing as an Officer Yelled at a Photojournalist to Leave Because of an ‘Active Shooter’
Christmas music playing on empty streets at Belmar in Lakewood as an officer yells at me to leave because of an active shooter. @CBSDenver
Photojournalist Mark Neitro wrote on Twitter: “Christmas music playing on empty streets at Belmar in Lakewood as an officer yells at me to leave because of an active shooter.” He shared the above video.
Photos emerged of shooting scenes.
—LAKEWOOD SHOOTING—
Officers were involved in a shooting in Lakewood this evening. There are multiple scenes scattered throughout the city associated with the investigation.
One of those scenes is here at a strip mall near Colfax/Kipling.
People on scene are clearly shaken up
Colorado State Patrol wrote on Twitter at 10:15 p.m., “Troopers assisting Lakewood in the Belmar area. Numerous businesses have customers and employees still inside. SWAT teams are clearing a very large area inch by inch. Stay inside and stay safe until area cleared by law enforcement.”
Troopers assisting Lakewood in the Belmar area. Numerous businesses have customers and employees still inside. SWAT teams are clearing a very large area inch by inch. Stay inside and stay safe until area cleared by law enforcement. S1
Authorities believe there was only one suspect. The shooter’s name has not been released. Authorities said they were still trying to determine if the suspect was wearing body armor.
READ NEXT: Former Playboy Model Accused of Causing Delta Fight in Viral Video