Man pleads guilty in Topgolf shooting

BRIGHTON, Colo. — A man accused of shooting two coworkers outside the Topgolf in Thornton, killing one of them, pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder charges Thursday. 

Court records show that Victor Salazar-Guarache, 27, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder in connection with the December 2023 shootings of 22-year-old Bryce Holden and a manager.  

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Around 12:50 a.m. on Dec. 23, officers responded to the Topgolf in the 16000 block of Grant Street in Thornton. They found Holden, who later died at a hospital. 

According to the arrest affidavit, Salazar-Guarache and Holden both worked as dishwashers at Topgolf. The kitchen manager told investigators that Salazar-Guarache left work for an unknown reason at 11:42 p.m. even though his shift was not over. Cameras showed him get into his car and drive around the parking lot. 

An hour later, after closing up, Holden and the manager walked out to the parking lot. At that time, the affidavit says, Salazar-Guarache got out of a vehicle and took a “shooting stance” before he began firing at the two men. Holden fell to the ground, while the kitchen manager ran inside. 

Salazar-Guarache continued to shoot after Holden was on the ground, firing a total of 12 times before he got back in his car and drove away, the affidavit says.

A rideshare driver who was at the business to pick up another employee told police he witnessed the shooting. He reported that he saw Salazar-Guarache take the “shooting stance” and that no one else was with him. He told investigators that it appeared Salazar-Guarache was laughing as he returned to his vehicle after the shooting.

Salazar-Guarache was identified as the suspect by multiple employees, as well as through security footage. Just after 4:10 a.m. on Dec. 23, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office spotted his vehicle traveling north on Interstate 25 and initiated a high-risk traffic stop before taking him into custody.

Sentencing is set for Oct. 11.