A suspect has been arrested at the Colorado Supreme Court building after allegedly shooting out windows, holding an armed security guard at gunpoint and maneuvering about the building for nearly two hours until voluntarily surrendering early Tuesday, according to authorities.
The timing comes soon after the state’s high court drew controversy by ruling that former President Trump should be removed from the 2024 GOP primary ballot. Colorado State Patrol said in a statement that preliminary investigations “confirmed a high probability the incident… is NOT associated to the recent threats against the Colorado Supreme Court Justices.”
Fox News Digital reached out for comment from the Denver Police Department, which is now leading the investigation into Tuesday’s incident, but did not immediately hear back.
Authorities say the episode unfolded at approximately 1:15 a.m. Tuesday when a two-vehicle crash occurred at 13th Street and Lincoln in Denver.
Police tape surrounds an area where a man broke into the Colorado Supreme Court building and barricaded himself inside overnight in Denver, Jan. 2, 2024. (Reuters/Kevin Mohatt)
One individual involved reportedly pointed a handgun at the other driver, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
“A short time later, that same individual shot out a window on the east side of the Ralph L. Carr Colorado Judicial Center located at 2 East 14th Ave, Denver, CO 80203,” the agency said in a press release. “The individual entered the building and came in contact with an unarmed security guard from the Colorado State Patrol Capitol Security Unit.”
“The individual held the security guard at gunpoint and demanded access to other parts of the building,” Colorado State Patrol said. “The individual obtained keys from the security guard and proceeded into other parts of the building and accessed an unknown number of floors. Denver Police Department (DPD) officers, as well as Colorado State Patrol Troopers, responded to the scene and set up a perimeter. The suspect then made his way to the 7th floor, where he fired additional shots inside the building.”
Shards of glass from a smashed window of the Colorado Supreme Court building are seen after a man broke in and barricaded himself inside overnight in Denver, Jan. 2, 2024. (Reuters/Kevin Mohatt)
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At approximately 3 a.m., the suspect called 911 and voluntarily surrendered to police, state patrol said.
“He was placed in custody without further incident. There are no injuries to building occupants, the suspect, or police personnel,” according to the release. “The suspect was taken to a local hospital to be cleared by medical personnel. There is significant and extensive damage to the building and the investigation is ongoing.”
Police tape in front of damaged windows at the Colorado Supreme Court on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024 in Denver. Authorities say a man inflicted “extensive damage” to the building. (AP Photo/Colleen Slevin)
“The CSP and DPD are treating this incident seriously, but at this time, it is believed that this is not associated with previous threats to the Colorado Supreme Court Justices,” state patrol added.
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The identity of the individual taken into custody was not immediately released, and it is unclear what charges he might face.