Fort Collins Police: Weekend Mall Shooting May Be Gang Related

Police in Fort Collins say they think a shooting incident which claimed two lives and shut down the Foothills Mall for several hours on Saturday may have been gang-related.

That's according to a post on the Fort Collins Police Services Facebook page.

Shooting Happened Late Saturday Afternoon

According to the post, police were called to the mall around 5 p.m. on Saturday on a report of a shooting at the mall in the 200 block of the East Foothills Parkway. The shooting actually occurred outside the mall, on a sidewalk between the mall building and a parking lot.

The post says police found the two victims, who were rushed to a local hospital, where they later died. The mall and an adjoining movie theater were shut down while police searched the mall and released people who had been sheltering in place. The mall remained closed until about midnight as the investigation continued.

Police eventually identified a male juvenile suspect who was arrested. Because of his age, the identity of the suspect has not been released. Police think the shooting may have been gang-related, but according to the post, the  "press release intentionally did not mention the names of the gangs to prevent any notoriety." 

The investigation is ongoing, and police say more charges are possible.

The post goes on to say "anyone who has information about this incident, who has not already spoken with police, please contact Detective Matt Dean at 970-221-6580. Anyone who wishes to remain anonymous can call Larimer County Crime Stoppers at 970-221-6868."