A 26-year-old man, Victor Salazar-Guarache, has been charged with the murder of his 22-year-old co-worker at Topgolf in Thornton, Colorado.
On December 22, 2023, Salazar-Guarache, a Topgolf dishwasher, left his workplace early due to a reported disturbance among employees, according to the Thornton Police Department.
He returned approximately an hour later, around 12:50 AM on December 23. At that time, Bryce Holden, another dishwasher, and a kitchen manager were leaving the Topgolf venue after finishing their shifts.
The police report indicates that Salazar-Guarache, who was waiting in the parking lot, confronted the two co-workers. He allegedly fired his weapon, hitting Holden 12 times. The kitchen manager was able to avoid injury by quickly retreating back into the building.
According to eyewitnesses, including a Lyft driver who was at the scene, Salazar-Guarache was seen laughing as he left the crime scene and got back into his car.
First responders rushed the critically injured Holden to a local hospital, but he was declared dead shortly after arrival.
Weld County Sheriff’s deputies apprehended Salazar-Guarache a few hours later on Interstate 25 and turned him over to Thornton police. Salazar-Guarache invoked his right to legal representation upon arrest and declined to talk to the police. He is facing charges of murder and attempted murder.
Topgolf issued a statement expressing their shock and sorrow over the tragic event.
Bryce Holden’s father, Rod, painted a picture of his son as a young man with strong values who was always looking for ways to better himself and who maintained a positive outlook on humanity. He also revealed that Bryce was teaching himself Spanish and aspired to relocate to Barcelona within the next two years.
As indicated by Adams County court records, a preliminary hearing for Salazar-Guarache is set for March 29, 2024, following his initial court appearance. The investigation into the motive behind the shooting is ongoing.