🌱 Gunman In Denver Area Shooting Spree Identified: Police

Hello, neighbors! Amber Fisher here with a fresh edition of the Denver Daily. I'm bringing you all the latest news about the deadly shooting spree that left six people dead, including the shooter. I also have news about the latest CDC quarantine guidance, DPS law enforcement guidelines and COVID-19 testing wait times.

First, today's weather:

Brrr! You can expect a partly sunny but cold day. High: 37 Low: 24.

Here are the top stories in Denver today:

1. Investigators identified the man who shot five people to death in the Denver area, police said in a news conference Tuesday. Lyndon McLeod, 47, went on the shooting spree in Denver and Lakewood before he was killed by police at the Belmar shopping center, investigators said. Some of the people who were killed have been identified as Alicia Cardenas, Alyssa Gunn-Maldonado and Danny Scofield. The victims were targeted, police said. (Lakewood Patch)
2. Colorado is following the new CDC guidance for a shorter quarantine period of five days for infected people who are asymptomatic. Previously, the period was 10 days. (Colorado Newsline)
3. Coloradans continue to face long lines and wait times for COVID-19 testing. Several community sites in Denver's metro area are reaching capacity early each day and in some cases, the vehicle lines are even holding up traffic. (CBS Denver)
4. Denver Public Schools has released a new guide that outlines when people should, and shouldn't, call police. A previous guide allowed staff to call law enforcement if students brought marijuana to school or damaged school property, but the new guide urges staff to deal with those incidents without involving police. (Chalkbeat)
5. Cheers to beers! Westword has released 30 of its favorite new Colorado craft beers from 2021. (Westword)

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Today in Denver:

• 2021 NAFWS Fish & Wildlife Webinar Series (11 a.m.)
• Dusty Slay at Comedy Works South (7:30 p.m.)
• Ismo at Comedy Works Downtown (8 p.m)

From my notebook:

• With the emergence of the omicron variant, and as COVID-19 cases continue to rise, Denver has extended the public health order requiring face coverings or proof of vaccination in indoor, public spaces. (Facebook)
• As New Year's Eve approaches, the Denver Police Department is partnering with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to remind people not to drive under the influence or alcohol or drugs. (Facebook)
• New trash, recycle, and compost routes begin Monday, Jan. 3, for many Denverites. See what your new collection day will be. (Facebook)
• The first safe outdoor space on public property opened last month in the parking lot of the East Office of Denver Human Services. The tents are heated, and have electricity, showers and laundry. (Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with another update.

— Amber Fisher

About me: I'm a Patch editor covering news in Denver's metro area and Boulder. I've spent the past nine years working for various news outlets across North America, including Chicago Patch, Global News and WBEZ. I've covered high-profile court cases, civil rights abuses, mass shootings, natural disasters and major crimes — but also countless happy news stories about kindness, innovation and resilience. When I'm not writing articles, I can be found hiking, snowboarding, debating politics with my husband and attempting to be a sci-fi and astronomy geek.