Man killed in shooting outside Downtown Denver Aquarium

DENVER — A man was killed in a shooting outside the Denver Aquarium Wednesday afternoon, according to the Denver Police Department.

In its initial post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the department said the victim was taken into the hospital in critical condition. In an update, DPD said the victim — only identified as an adult male — succumbed to his injuries.

Investigators were still working to develop suspect information.

“As we were walking we just happened to stop and two minutes later, we heard like, five rounds,” said Elise Lee, who was taking her daughter to the aquarium for the first time when the shooting occurred. “At first we weren’t too concerned… then we started seeing cops rushing this way and that’s when we realized something happened at the aquarium.”

She told Denver7 that her body started shaking from anxiety and couldn’t imagine what it was like inside the aquarium.

“It’s the aquarium and you wouldn’t think that something like this would happen here,” she said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

‘I was shaking’: Bystander describes hearing gunshots outside Denver aquarium