Hotel Employee Discovers Weaponry Near Coors Field Ahead Of MLB All-Star Game
At a hotel near Coors Field, "16 long guns, body armor and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition" were discovered ahead of Tuesday's MLB All-Star Game.
News of the artillery surfaced after an employee tipped off authorities upon discovering the weapons, leading to the arrest of four suspects.
Reports and authorities responding to the scene feared that motivation and intent with the weaponry was reminiscent of the horrifying 2017 Las Vegas shooting, since the hotel room where the weapons were found overlooks the venue grounds. Thousands of fans are expected to join festivities next week.
A SWAT team and local police department received a warrant to secure the ammunition and weapons, discovering one man present in the room.
Reports identify four suspects connected to the weapons stash found at the Maven Hotel:
As part of the ongoing investigation, the FBI report is looking into the scene's connection with the upcoming MLB All-Star Game.
"We have no reason to believe this incident was connected to terrorism or a threat directed at the All-Star Game. We are not aware of any threat to the All-Star Game events, venues, players, or the community at this time," read the FBI statement.
As the event draws closer, Denver authorities and response units are prepared to answer any calls from the scene, as panic now looms over Tuesday's game.
“We already have shelters identified, call centers active, it’s all standing by if it does escalate, or if an incident like yesterday escalates to a bigger point where an agency is overwhelmed, we have the resources to help,” commented local authorities.
The scene marks the second case this week where a potential shooting was avoided after an Iowa man was found with a rifle equipped with a laser sight in Chicago near Lake Michigan during the Independence Day weekend. The suspect was released shortly after being apprehended.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced relocation of the All-Star Game from Georgia to Denver back in April over disagreements related to Georgia's voting laws.
“We appreciate their flexibility and enthusiasm to deliver a first-class event for our game and the region,” said Manfred, ahead of the July 13 event.