Shooter sentenced to 35 years after Nuggets celebration

A man involved in a shooting during the Denver Nuggets' championship celebration has been sentenced to 35 years in prison. Ricardo Vasquez, 24, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and drug charges earlier this year. The shooting happened on June 13, 2023. Police say multiple people fired shots during the celebrations, which may have stemmed from a drug deal. During the sentencing, the prosecutor, Kim Fallone, highlighted that Vasquez shot into a crowd filled with spectators, including police officers. Four people were hit by the gunfire. Though Vasquez initially pleaded guilty to a single charge, he later tried to withdraw his plea. He claimed he was unhappy with his lawyers and felt pressured into the guilty plea to avoid a longer prison sentence. He argued that he acted in self-defense after being attacked. Judge Martin Egelhoff denied Vasquez's request to change his plea and gave him the sentence as agreed. Supporters of Vasquez were emotional when the sentence was announced. Vasquez was one of three men charged in this incident. Raoul Jones, 35, was arrested at the scene and received a one-year sentence after pleading guilty to a firearm charge. Kenneth Blakely, 26, is facing two counts of attempted murder and has pleaded not guilty, with a trial set for April 14.