Tragedy at Topgolf as suspect in deadly shooting is set to appear in court

Thornton, CO– Shock and grief ripple through the community after a deadly shooting at the local Topgolf entertainment venue.

According to Thornton police, officers responded to 911 calls of a shooting just before 1 a.m. Saturday. The shooting occurred after an argument between two employees in the parking lot of the Top Golf at 16011 Grant Street.

Bryce Holden, a 22-year-old dishwasher, was allegedly fatally shot by coworker Victor Salazar Guarache, 26, following a workplace dispute that escalated in the parking lot after their shift.

“We are shocked and heartbroken by the incident that occurred in our Thornton venue parking lot, and we grieve for those impacted by this senseless act,” Top Golf said in a statement to CBS News Colorado. “We are cooperating fully with law enforcement agencies, whom we appreciate greatly, and we are focused on providing support to our Topgolf team during this difficult time. As this is an ongoing police investigation, we will not be commenting further at this time. We also want to salute all other first responders who assisted with skill and care.”

Guarache faces first-degree murder charges and is scheduled to appear in court on January 2, 2024. Topgolf swiftly closed the Thornton site, expressing condolences and offering counseling services to employees while fully cooperating with the police investigation.