A man has been taken into custody on suspicion of first-degree murder following a shooting incident at a hotel shelter in Denver. The incident occurred at approximately 11:40 p.m. on Wednesday at the city shelter located at 4040 North Quebec Street, previously known as the DoubleTree by Hilton. This marks the third shooting at the shelter within a span of less than two weeks.
According to Siena Riley, spokesperson for the Denver Police Department, officers swiftly responded to reports of the shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered an adult woman who had sustained gunshot wounds inside one of the hotel rooms. The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, was promptly transported to a local hospital for treatment. Fortunately, her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Cameron Ware, was apprehended on Thursday morning at around 11 a.m. Police suspect that Ware had prior knowledge of the victim and may have specifically targeted her due to a previous conflict between the two individuals. Surveillance footage aided investigators in identifying Ware as the suspect. He was located and arrested in a separate room within the building.
The Denver District Attorney’s office will announce the official charges against Ware in due course. It is important to note that less than two weeks prior to this incident, on March 16, two individuals were fatally shot at the same shelter. Sandra Cervantes, 43, and Dustin Nunn, 38, lost their lives in the incident. No arrests have been made in connection with the double homicide, and the case remains under investigation.
Despite the implementation of increased safety protocols, including the hiring of additional staff and contract security guards, the installation of a badge system and photo ID cards for residents, the addition of security cameras, and heightened police patrols in the area, a firearm managed to enter the shelter on Wednesday night. Records from the Denver Police Department indicate that officers received 465 calls for service at the shelter between January 1 and March 17.
