Highlands Ranch, Colo. — A late-night active shooter incident at a popular family entertainment center ended in a deadly confrontation between deputies and an armed suspect, according to authorities. The sequence of events is still under investigation, and officials are piecing together the details of the chaotic situation.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call reporting shots fired at the Main Event entertainment venue, located near Centennial and Broadway in Highlands Ranch, just before midnight on Saturday. The location, which offers bowling, laser tag, an arcade, and other attractions, was packed with customers at the time of the incident.
Sheriff Darren Weekly confirmed that a deputy, who happened to be in the area, responded to the call immediately. Upon arrival, the deputy encountered a man in the parking lot holding a handgun. Despite several orders to drop the weapon, the suspect did not comply. As the man moved between two parked vehicles, he turned toward the deputy, prompting the deputy to open fire. The suspect was struck and later pronounced dead at the scene after attempts to provide life-saving measures failed.
At the same time, inside the venue, investigators determined that the shooting incident involved two women. One of the women was shot in the chest and sustained a foot injury. Authorities confirmed that the woman responsible for shooting the other was taken into custody. The injured woman is expected to survive her injuries, though another woman was hospitalized for a medical issue unrelated to the shooting.
Sheriff Weekly described the scene inside the venue as highly dangerous, noting that multiple rounds were fired within the crowded space. “It was packed. There were a lot of patrons still here when the shots rang out,” Weekly said. “This situation could have been much worse.”
The identities of the shooter and the armed man who was killed by law enforcement have not been disclosed at this time. Investigators are continuing their work to establish the connection between the woman who opened fire inside the venue and the man involved in the confrontation with deputies.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office at 303-660-7500.
As the investigation continues, questions remain about the motives behind the shooting and the circumstances that led to the violent confrontation in the entertainment center.
