4 arrested on gun charges at Denver hotel, police feared 'Las Vegas-style shooting' during All-Star Game
Three men and one woman were arrested at the Maven Hotel in Denver on Friday night after a hotel housekeeper tipped off the police to a large stash of guns and ammo in an 8th floor room. The hotel is near Coors Field, where the MLB All-Star Game is being held next week.
Channel 7 in Denver reported that the tip from the hotel employee, combined with other factors, caused the police fear that there could be a mass shooting event during the festivities next week. Via thedenverchannel.com:
Sources said police removed 16 long guns, body armor and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition from the room which featured a balcony overlooking the downtown area. The sources said they feared the number of weapons, ammo, vantage point and large crowds could have resulted in a "Las Vegas style shooting."
Police and SWAT were called in to apprehend the suspects, and they also impounded two cars. A hotel guest described to KDVR what happened when law enforcement came into the building.
“Once I got up to my room the hotel phone started ringing,” hotel guest Drake Voell said. “I answered, and they said for everyone to stay in their room because there was a situation. I asked what was going on and they said there was just a few people that were up to no good on the fourth and the eighth floor.”
Three of the four suspects were also charged with drug offenses. According to Channel 7, one of them recently posted an alarming message on Facebook.
One of the suspects arrested Friday night had posted a message on Facebook referencing a recent divorce and saying he was going to 'go out in a big way,' according to the multiple law enforcement sources.
FBI says there was no threat to ASG
Despite the presence of an enormous amount of guns and ammunition in a hotel room just one block from Coors Field, an FBI spokesperson said Sunday that they have no reason to believe they posed a threat to All-Star Week.
“We are not aware of any threat to the All-Star Game events, venues, players, or the community at this time,” the spokesperson said in a statement to the Denver Post.
Denver Police refused to provide any additional information about the reports that they feared a "Las Vegas style shooting," and would not give any details on the reported Facebook message from one of the suspects.
“We are working with our local and federal law enforcement partners on this investigation and continue to ask the public if they see something — say something,” a police spokeswoman said in a statement, via the Denver Post.
Denver staying prepared
Loa Esquilin, public information officer for Denver Office of Emergency Management, told Denver news station KDVR that the raid and arrests at the Maven Hotel were entirely handled by police and SWAT. The emergency operations center, which has been established for All-Star Week, didn't have to get involved.
“This shows that they have it together,” Esquilin said.
The emergency operations center has more than 100 people on standby, ready to respond in case of an emergency, and the FBI are also observing and ready to get involved if needed.
“We already have shelters identified, call centers active, it’s all standing by if it does escalate, or if an incident like yesterday escalates to a bigger point where an agency is overwhelmed, we have the resources to help,” Esquilin told KDVR.
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