Two people were shot and injured Friday night at the 8th Avenue Tavern in Durango, and police are asking for the public’s help in locating the weapon, according to a news release issued Saturday by the Durango Police Department.
The gun may have been discarded somewhere in the neighborhood near the bar at 509 East Eighth Ave. after the shots were fired, said Deputy Chief Brice Current, in the release. Police are asking the public to call dispatch at 385-2900 if the gun is found.
“Our officers are currently out looking for the weapon now and we are also asking for the community’s help,” Current said. “We believe the weapon might have been discarded in the area of a business or a residence.” Current said if someone finds a weapon to not touch or move it.
The names of the victims have not been released. A 29-year-old man was shot through the leg, and a 41-year-old woman was shot through the shoulder. Both are in stable condition, Current said.
Current said a phone call to dispatch was initially made at 11:28 p.m. Friday to report that a man in a black puffy winter jacket was shooting a firearm in the alley behind CJ’s Diner. An additional call was immediately made to report a gunshot injury at the tavern.
Evidence suggests that the suspect was standing in the alley on the other side of East Eighth Avenue when he shot into the covered, outdoor area of the tavern, hitting the victims, Durango Police Cmdr. Jacob Dunlop told The Durango Herald.
The suspect, Michael Quirova, 27, went in the alley behind CJ’s Diner, north on Ninth Avenue and then up Goeglein Gulch Road, Current said. A suspect matching Quirova’s description was found near Goeglein Gulch Road. The suspect allegedly resisted arrest, but was subdued and taken into custody after officers fired multiple taser shots, Current said. Officers were unable to locate the weapon involved in the shooting, he said. Detectives searched the suspect’s residence and found additional evidence, he said.
Police released a photo of Quirova’s shoe print. “If you see that print in the snow on your property be mindful that you may find a weapon,” Current said.
Police believe the firearm is a semi-automatic, Dunlop said. The motive behind the shooting was unknown.
“This did not appear to start out at or have anything necessarily to do with the Eighth Avenue Tavern,” he said. “As far as we can tell, the suspect was just in the area and had been hanging around nearby the tavern just before he decided to fire shots at the bar, but as far as we can tell, nothing was instigated inside.”
Quirova was recently released from Hilltop House community corrections center. Hilltop provides transitional housing to parolees and criminal offenders who are required to work and earn income while living in the community. Quirova wore an ankle bracelet because he was still on parole, Current said.
Quirova has a criminal record dating to 2008 that includes convictions for burglary, possession of a controlled substance, vehicular eluding and flight escape. Following the shots being fired at the 8th Avenue Tavern, Quirova is going to be charged with seven counts of attempted murder and felony assault, as well as possessing a weapon by a previous offender, violating a protection order and resisting arrest. Quirova will also be charged with a separate felony charge for knowingly having COVID-19 and coughing in an officer’s face, Current said.
ngonzales@durangoherald.com
