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Shaken by random shooting, Denver's Wash Park neighborhood looks to reestablish
| Mainlining the Secret Truth of the Mahchine | 03/03/25 |
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Date: March 3rd, 2025 11:59 AM Author: Mainlining the Secret Truth of the Mahchine (You = Privy to The Great Becumming™ & Yet You Recognize Nothing) Shaken by random shooting, Denver's Wash Park neighborhood looks to reestablish peace
Man dies after rear ending motorcycle into car in Aurora on Saturday Man dies after rear ending motorcycle into car in Aurora on …
Shaken by random shooting, Denver's Wash Park neighborhood looks to reestablish peace Residents aren't worried about crime in the historic, close-knit neighborhood
Sage Kelley sage.kelley@denvergazette.com Mar 2, 2025 Updated 27 mins ago 1 of 5
SMS Copy article link On a recent warm Sunday, gunshots rang out in Denver’s Washington Park, leaving one man wounded and a community shaken.
Police said a 28-year-old man, Ryan Egelston, fired at two people, striking one in the jaw.
Egelston was arrested on Feb. 2 after allegedly shooting at a man who tried to sit on the same bench as him, then firing at another man walking along the park’s edge, authorities said.
The shooting stunned the eastern Washington Park neighborhood, a historically low-crime area bordered by Downing Street, Cherry Creek, Interstate 25, and University Boulevard. Home to a sprawling park that serves as a cultural landmark, residents view it as one of the city's safest areas.
About a month later, many in the neighborhood saw the shooting as an isolated incident.
“I think people move on quickly these days," said Ben Susnick, owner of HOJA, a restaurant in the area. "There was the usual quick, initial shock, but then you move on, for better or worse. I haven’t sensed anyone giving up on Wash Park or being nervous about going out.”
Lance Musselman, secretary of the Washington Park East Neighborhood Association and a resident since the 1980s, agreed.
"It’s always been a safe place," Musselman said.
A random shooting on a Sunday On what had been an unusually warm and busy day in the park, an "older, hunched-over" man asked to sit on the same bench as Egelston, according to an arrest affidavit from the Denver Police Department.
Egelston spat on the man, pushed him, and punched him in the lower back, police said. When the man attempted to leave on his bicycle, Egelston allegedly fired a handgun, hitting the back tire.
In a police interview after his arrest, Egelston claimed he told the man to leave, alleging he was a "pedophile" who wanted "to touch him," according to the affidavit.
Egelston then walked south toward East Kentucky Avenue and South Downing Street, where he fired at 23-year-old Ben Varga from behind, striking him in the jaw and neck, police said.
Varga has since undergone multiple surgeries for a fractured vertebra and a broken jaw. He is now out of the hospital and recovering.
"There was no apparent altercation or disagreement between the second victim and the defendant before the shooting," the affidavit stated.
That day was Varga's first time visiting Washington Park since childhood.
“My idea was that it was a nice neighborhood — a really fun place for me as a 23-year-old," he said. "I was looking forward to getting to know the Denver scene. I perceived it as very safe and a cornerstone for a lot of people who like to exercise and gather.”
Egelston, arrested after a brief car chase, has been charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder after deliberation, two counts of attempted first-degree murder with extreme indifference, one count of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of vehicular eluding, and six sentence enhancers.
‘Things can happen and change quickly’ Varga said he plans to return to the park as soon as he is able.
"I realized that things can happen and change quickly," he said. "A place I deemed to be super safe — and still think is very safe — can be compromised at any time."
Susnick, the restaurant owner, said the contrast between the crime scene and the park’s usual activity was striking.
“It was a strange situation," he said. "I was just leaving the area shortly after the shooting and saw police cars blocking one area, but not too far away, where people were out in the park, it was business as usual.”
Peter Newlin, founder of Gastamo Group, which owns Homegrown Tap & Dough and Perdida, said the incident reflects broader tensions in society.
“To me, it’s more indicative of the stress in every community right now,” he said. "You see horrific things happen in neighborhoods around the world. It was just a random thing that happened in the community we love."
"It didn't change my perspective of the park, but it is scary," said Bella Anderson, a nanny watching a 2-year-old at a playground three weeks after the shooting.
"We definitely still feel safe here," she added.
Washington Park’s history and changing identity Washington Park has long been one of Denver’s most desirable neighborhoods.
In 2018, Susnick opened his first restaurant in the area after running a food truck, drawn to its historic charm and neighborhood feel.
"It’s an old neighborhood. I’m a bit of a Luddite," he said."Wash Park beingjust a little quieter and calmer, I’ve always loved it.It’s always been a really down-to-earth neighborhood."
Newlin, whose businesses have been in the area for over a decade, echoed that sentiment.
"It’s just so walkable,” he said. “The strollers are everywhere. The dogs are everywhere. You see the same faces every Friday night. You’re building community with the team and customers.”
Washington Park dates back to the late 19th century, with development beginning in 1897. While not Denver’s largest park, it has remained one of the city’s most iconic public spaces.
Musselman, who moved to the neighborhood in 1984, noted how it has evolved over the years.
“There is a different feel to the neighborhood now," he said. "Back in the ’80s, there weren’t cellphones and emails. Everyone has their own business to do, and you don’t see as many people informally gathering.”
The rise of multimillion-dollar homes has also changed the area.
The average property price in the 80209 ZIP code, which includes Washington Park East, was $1.3 million in 2024, according to the Denver Metro Association of Realtors.It ranked as the second most expensive ZIP code in Denver, behind only Cherry Hills.
“When you go to the park, you don’t see mothers pushing their babies around in baby carriages. You see people hired as babysitters," Musselman said, laughing. "It’s changed the feel of the neighborhood some. It’s not a bad thing, but it’s a change."
Crime remains low despite concerns Washington Park remains one of Denver’s safest neighborhoods, though crime concerns persist.
Crimes against people in the park reached a five-year high in 2024, with five reported incidents, including three aggravated assaults, one simple assault, and one sex offense.
Property crimes, such as vehicle break-ins, were significantly lower in 2024 than in previous years, with eight reports compared to 18 in 2023 and 14 in both 2022 and 2021.
In the surrounding residential area, crime also declined in 2024. There were no reported homicides in the past five years.
"We always have local community resource officers at our meetings," said Washington Park East Neighborhood Association President John Williams. "They're always saying we’re doing great, and crime is lower than the city average."
Musselman said random acts of violence do happen in cities, but Washington Park has seen relatively few in the four decades he has lived there.
“I remember sometime in the mid-'90s, there were a couple of shootings next to the neighborhood that got everyone’s attention," he said.
One incident involved a man being shot while fishing at the park. In another, two people were killed in a revenge attack.
Susnick said crime at HOJA has been rare.
“I can count on one hand the number of crime-related incidents we’ve had in six years," he said. "Those things are reminders that you’re not completely in a bubble, but they haven’t made people rethink living here."
Varga said he has been touched by the support from the community. His GoFundMe has raised more than $54,000 in under a month.
"I feel very grateful for the people who were there and the Wash Park community and how they responded," he said. "All of that has made me excited to return once I’m able to."
Many in the neighborhood remain unaware the shooting even happened.
"I play volleyball here every summer. This is my favorite park," said Makayla Arvesen, a local resident relaxing with a book in the park. "I had no idea it even happened." |