Shooting of Broncos receiver, 2 friends was a ‘coordinated, organized attack,’ prosecutor alleges in court

DENVER — A shooting that left Denver Broncos receiver Josh Reynolds and two companions injured was a “coordinated, organized assault,” a prosecutor said in court Monday.

“Your honor, this is a violent vicious attack on the citizens of Denver,” Attorney Holly MacDonald said during a court hearing for one of three men who have been arrested and charged in the Oct. 18 attack along Interstate 25.

MacDonald also said during the hearing that investigators were continuing to look for other suspects.

The incident unfolded in the hours after the Broncos beat the New Orleans Saints in a Thursday night game. Reynolds stayed behind in Denver after suffering a broken finger on Oct. 6 in a game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

According to court documents obtained by 9NEWS Investigates, Reynolds and two companions had gone to Shotgun Willie’s, a strip club in Glendale. Security footage obtained by Denver Police detectives showed that a visitor to the club seemed to be paying particular attention to Reynolds and his friends.

After Reynolds and his companions got into his Ford Bronco to leave, people in at least three vehicles followed them. Then someone in one of those vehicles began firing.

Reynolds and his companions were all injured, either by gunshots or flying glass.

Denver police have so far arrested three people:

• Luis Mendoza, 35, faces six counts of attempted murder, six counts of first-degree assault and weapons and drug charges.
• Burr Charlesworth, 42, faces six counts of attempted murder, six counts of first-degree assault and weapons charges.
• A third man was taken into custody on suspicion of attempting to influence a public servant. He has not been formally charged with a crime or identified.

Monday morning, Mendoza’s attorney, Beth Dombrowski, asked Denver County Court Judge Andrew Rudolph to reduce his $300,000 cash-only bail. She told the judge that a family member was facing emergency brain surgery and he was needed at home. In addition, she argued that Mendoza is a primary caretaker for another family member and has a job.

MacDonald opposed any reduction in Mendoza’s bail – often referred to as bond.

“Your honor, this was a coordinated, organized assault on three victims,” MacDonald said.

The person who coordinated and organized it was Mendoza, she said. She also told the judge that Reynolds’ vehicle was hit by 30 bullets that night.

The judge denied the request.

“The main purpose of bond in Colorado is to ensure that somebody appears in court,” said Ryan Brackley, a former prosecutor who is now a criminal defense attorney.

Setting bail – or bond – is based on a number of factors.

“A court can consider someone’s ties to the community, how long they’ve lived in Colorado, whether they have family in the area [and]  employment,” Brackley said.

The judge can also consider the seriousness of the crime and what kind of sentence the person might face if convicted.

“If it’s a really serious offense, which would likely lead to incarceration, prison time or a lengthy jail sentence, a court can say that, you know, there’s an inference that someone facing a longer time in prison or jail might have an incentive to not come back to court,” Brackley said.