Security guard being investigated for 1st-degree murder after gunfire erupts near Denver protests

DENVER — One person was killed and a private security guard was in custody on Saturday after gunfire erupted near an area where protests between opposing groups in downtown Denver were occurring, authorities said.

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Update 6:20 p.m. EDT Oct. 11: Michael Dolloff, the private security guard taken into custody Saturday following a fatal shooting during Denver protests, is being held for investigation of first-degree murder in connection to the shooting, Denver police confirmed Sunday.

Joe Montoya, division chief of investigations for the Denver Police Department, told USA Today that a verbal altercation ensued before the shooting.

Update 1:25 p.m. EDT Oct. 11: The security guard taken into custody was identified as Matthew Doloff, KCNC reported.

Doloff, 30, was working as a contractor for KUSA. The television station has assigned a security detail to work with reporters.

Original report: The shooting occurred in the courtyard of the Denver Art Museum, KCNC reported.

The private security guard was contracted through Pinkerton by KUSA. It has been the practice of KUSA for several months to hire private security to accompany staff at protests, the television station reported.

A man participating in a “Patriot Rally,” which also included self-described Black Lives Matter-antifa protesters, sprayed mace at another man, according to the Denver Post. The man sprayed by mace then shot the protester with a handgun, the newspaper reported.

The victim, whose identity has not been released, was transported to an area hospital and was later pronounced dead, KCNC reported.

Police initially said two people were taken into custody but later said one of them was not involved in the incident, the Post reported. The second suspect was a producer for KUSA, the station confirmed.

According to a later tweet from police, “further investigation has determined the (other) suspect is a private security guard with no affiliation with antifa.”

Officials said more information will be released “as it becomes available.”

The Patriot Rally was scheduled for 2 p.m. local time, KUSA reported. The counter protest, called a “BLM-Antifa Soup Drive,” began 30 minutes earlier at Civic Center Park, which is located next to the state Capitol, the television station reported.

Police, who earlier fired what appeared to be pepper balls at the leftist protest group, said they were working on a homicide investigation, the Post reported.

Several Denver police officers in riot gear were on the scene when the shooting occurred, KMGH reported. Witnesses said the victim was shot at point-blank range, the television station reported.

The Denver Police Department did not provide specifics about the shooting but released a statement.

“The Denver Police Department respects the right to peacefully assemble,” the statement read. “Those who participate in protests, demonstrations, marches, or other gatherings, as protected by the First Amendment, are reminded to do so in a lawful manner. Individuals who choose to act outside of local, state and federal law, will be subject to citation or arrest.”

In a news conference Division Chief Joe Montoya said police could not confirm the affiliation of the shooter or the victim, but said the incident started as a verbal altercation. Two guns were found at the scene, Montoya told reporters, along with can of mace.

Cox Media Group