Someone fired shots near the state Capitol Thursday afternoon while a protest for justice for George Floyd, Your Content has learned.
There was an active protest demanding justice for Lloyd, who died while in the custody of Minnesota police this week, on the Capitol’s front steps, police and a lawmaker said.
Someone fired shots near the state Capitol Thursday afternoon while a protest for justice for George Floyd, who died while in the custody of Minnesota police this week, was ongoing on the Capitol’s front steps, police and a lawmaker said.
According to Denver 7, Denver police confirmed that shots were fired near Colfax Ave. and 15th Street, right outside the Capitol. Police said they were not sure if the shooting was related to the protest.
Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, told Denver7 in an interview from inside the Capitol Thursday evening that someone fired five or six shots from the RTD bus stop nearby into the crowd.
She said everyone ran while Colorado State Patrol troopers ushered people back inside to shelter in place. Herod said that a bullet hit the Capitol building.
So far, no injuries have been reported in the shooting.
The people involved in the protest were carrying signs and shouting, “I can’t breathe,” which Floyd was filmed saying as a police officer maintained pressure on his neck before he died earlier this week.
Floyd’s death while in police custody has set off two straight days of protests and rioting in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. On Thursday, Minnesota’s governor called in the National Guard to help stem the rioting from happening again.