Deadly Weekend in Commerce City

Commerce City police have sought to reassure residents that there is no ongoing threat to public safety following a spate of three unrelated shootings that resulted in four fatalities over the weekend. Police Chief, John Small, noted that the city typically experiences an average of five to six homicides annually, highlighting the unusual nature of this recent violence. "Now we're at four for one weekend," he remarked, emphasizing the isolated nature of the incidents. The recent surge in violence began on Friday night at a 7-Eleven parking lot, where a man was critically injured and later succumbed to his wounds. Authorities believe that a suspect involved in this shooting took his own life the following morning. The violence continued on Saturday with another shooting at Pioneer Park, where a man was found dead, prompting police to detain a person of interest. Officials confirmed that this incident was contained to the parking lot and did not affect the surrounding park or pool area. Crime statistics from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation indicate that Commerce City has seen fluctuating homicide rates over the years, with four recorded in 2023 so far. The city has not experienced a homicide rate higher than seven since 2012. In light of the recent events, police are actively seeking assistance from the community to aid in the investigations of these separate cases.