Suspect In Denver Protest Shooting Was Not Licensed To Work As Security Guard

A Denver news outlet said the suspect in a fatal shooting near dueling political demonstrations it hired as a security guard was not properly licensed to be working.

Denver NBC-affiliate KUSA hired multiple private security guards from local contractor Pinkerton to accompany reporters covering the rallies on Saturday. The suspected shooter, Matthew Dolloff, was among the guards KUSA contracted for the rallies when he allegedly shot one person outside the city’s library. However, KUSA said Pinkerton’s records showed he was not employed by the contractor and did not say who Dolloff actually worked for.

“We are in the process of still gathering information to better understand the incident that occurred in Denver on October 10 involving a contractor agent,” Pinkerton said in a press release Sunday. “The agent in question is not a Pinkerton employee. Pinkerton is fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities in their investigation of this matter.”

Denver Department of Excise and Licenses’ Eric Escudero added the office had no records Dolloff was ever licensed to work as a security guard in the city.

Saturday’s shooting marked the end of dueling political rallies sparked by a pro-Trump group holding what it called a “Patriot Rally” near the city library and Denver Art Museum. Black Lives Matter counter-protesters gathered ahead of the rally, leading to a heavy police presence.

The Denver Police Department said Dolloff was arrested moments after the alleged shooting that killed one victim, whose name has not been released. He is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder and was denied bail as the investigation is ongoing.

The Denver City Attorney’s Office said it was investigating Dolloff’s status as a security contractor and additional charges could be filed if he was found to be working without a license.

“The CAO is also working with the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses to weigh disciplinary action against the security guard company for hiring and deploying an unlicensed guard, one without a license, much less an armed endorsement,” the attorney’s office said in a press release.