Nuggets NBA Finals shooting suspect pleads not guilty

DENVER (KDVR) — Just over a year after shots were fired during a victory celebration following the Denver Nuggets’ historic NBA Championship win , one of the suspects pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from that night, including first-degree attempted murder.

After the championship game on June 12, 2023, fans were celebrating in the streets when a fight broke out between a few people and shots were fired, hitting 10 people. Three suspects were arrested.

According to an arrest affidavit, officers with the Denver Police Department reviewed surveillance video in which suspect Kenneth Blakely, 24, was allegedly seen pointing a gun at another suspect. That’s when shots were fired and several bystanders were hit.

Blakely was also seen in body camera footage of the aftermath, running in front of an officer while calling for the others to “hurry up,” according to the affidavit. Police say it appears that the shooting stemmed from a drug deal that Blakely was not initially involved in.

Blakely appeared in court on Thursday and pleaded not guilty on charges including but not limited to attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon and commission of a violent crime using a weapon.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.