Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds found himself in a terrifying situation after a night out turned violent in Glendale, Colorado. According to police, Reynolds was leaving Shotgun Willie's, a local strip club, with two friends around 3 a.m. on October 18 when they were targeted in a shooting. Reynolds was hit in the back of his head and his left arm, sustaining only minor injuries, but the incident still sent shockwaves through Denver, a city all too familiar with tragic shootings involving Broncos players.
Despite being shot in two places, Reynolds managed to escape serious harm and was treated at a local hospital before being released. The Broncos have since issued a statement acknowledging the incident but declined further comment. Police later found an abandoned Ford Bronco riddled with bullet holes along a Denver interstate, though it's still unclear whether Reynolds was driving at the time.
Adding to the chaos, police say they received multiple 911 calls around the time of the shooting, with one caller reporting that he had been shot while driving a blue Ford Bronco. The frantic caller allegedly stopped responding at one point, sounding as if he were running. Other calls came in as well, including one from a man who said he was being followed and another who claimed he had also been shot.
By the time officers arrived on the scene, they found three victims: Reynolds, another man who had been shot in the back, and a third person wounded by shattered glass. The men had scratches from climbing a fence, apparently while fleeing the chaotic scene.
In an encouraging development, police have arrested two suspects in connection with the shooting, identified as Burr Charlesworth and Luis Mendoza. Both men are facing charges of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault. The motives behind the attack are still under investigation, and police have yet to release details about the circumstances leading up to the violence.
For Broncos fans, this incident brings back painful memories of the tragic 2007 New Year's Eve shooting that claimed the life of cornerback Darrent Williams, who was killed in a drive-by after leaving a party hosted by then-Denver Nuggets player Kenyon Martin. While Reynolds' injuries are far less severe, the incident serves as another sobering reminder of the violence that has, unfortunately, touched the Denver sports community more than once.
Originally from San Antonio, Reynolds has been a journeyman in the
NFL, with stints at the Los Angeles Rams, Tennessee Titans, Detroit Lions, and now the Broncos. The wide receiver, who was on injured reserve after recent surgery, has posted solid career stats with over 3,000 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns since being drafted in 2017. While his playing future remains uncertain, the more pressing question now is about safety and the lingering impact of the trauma Reynolds and his friends have endured in what should have been an ordinary night out.