The lyrics to Auld Lang Syne open with, "Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?" For New Year's Eve revelers at the Red Lion Hotel in Aurora, however, it's the new acquaintances that should be "forgot."
Aurora police responded to a series of disturbances at a party there in the early hours of 2012. Writes 7News, as the intensity of fights increased, police ultimately called for all available officers to respond. 75 officers assisted in dispersing a crowd of 750.
"We were just being attacked by half of the people that were in the elevator," said attendee Mark Simmons to KDVR. "[We were] trying to protect our wives and had them behind us on the back wall and they just kept swinging."
The near-riot continued until 2:35 a.m. when, amidst fighting on all floors of the hotel, officers heard gunshots. The Denver Post reports police encountered a man running down a stairwell with a gun and shot him "in the lower extremities."
While the website for the event, named 'Blackout 2,' is currently down, a promotional overview on Zvents promised partygoers
the most upscale new years eve setting, inside the Master Grand Ballroom (18,000 sq feet) of the Red Lion Hotel. Come experience Enhanced sound and lighting, with trendsetting decor for an unbelievable luxury experience. The location will provide a diverse atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.... WHAT Happens In The Dark Stays In The Dark.
Reached for comment by 9News, event organizer Michael Millard of Trifecta Global Media Group said, "I simply marketed it to the public. This was not the target demographic I was aiming towards. I am not happy with the series of events that took place. During the hours of 8 p.m. until 11:30 we had an upscale, sophisticated crowd. Then a bunch of hoodlums came and crashed our party."
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