Officers responded to Chemistry Lab Paint and Fab in Denver around 5:40 p.m after receiving reports that two people had gotten into an argument inside the business and shots were fired.
Deputies said a man who was upset about some work that the shop did on his car came into the business to confront the owner. Once inside, officials said the disgruntled customer started shooting and the owner returned fire.
Deputies said after the shooting, the man ran into the woods behind the Safari Miles restaurant to get rid of his firearm before running into the restaurant.
A restaurant hostess said the man asked if he could use the restroom to clean himself off, but deputies swept in and took him down right in front of her.
“I was really shaken up by it because I have never seen or had to deal with anything like this,” hostess Imani Batts said. “Just a lot of blood everywhere, on his arms and he was just hurting."
Employees and customers inside the restaurant had no idea the man may have been involved in a shooting nearby.
"There’s a lot of gun violence, and it’s just scary and for families to be at this restaurant. It’s not OK,” Batts said.
Deputies said the man suffered a minor injury to his face. No other injuries were reported.
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