5 people hurt as gunfire erupts at Denver restaurant

DENVER (AP) — Five people have been taken to a hospital after a gunfight between two undercover Denver police officers and a gunman inside a restaurant Wednesday.

Authorities say the gunman entered the Pho Ha Noi Restaurant through a back door about noon and attempted to rob the business. Two officers who were there eating lunch drew their guns while trying to arrest the man.

Gunfire erupted moments later.

Authorities say the suspect was critically wounded and one of the officers was also hurt, apparently from glass in his eye.

The three other people who were hurt were either restaurant employees or customers.

It’s unclear how they were wounded.

No names have been released.

DENVER TO USE SPY EQUIPMENT TO CATCH GRAFFITI TAGGERS

DENVER (AP) — Denver will be the first city in the country to use spy equipment to catch graffiti taggers.

A surveillance equipment company is setting up a camera system in the city that switches on when vandals begin spray painting a wall. They system also alerts police officers with text messages as the crime is occurring.

Mayor John Hickenlooper said Wednesday the technology will make Denver a national leader in battling graffiti. The mayor and city officials have set a goal of eliminating graffiti within three years.

COMING IN TOMORROW'S GAZETTE

Miami-Yoder School District 60 JT made big enough strides in academic achievement to move from “academic probation” to “academic watch.” The announcement came from Colorado Department of Education earlier this week, and noted six districts in the state moved off the watch list. One district, Aguilar School District RE-6, moved from watch to probation.

Three popular watering holes face suspension or revocation of their liquor licenses after being accused of violations of state or local liquor laws. The Colorado Springs Liquor and Beer Licensing Board will hold hearings on the cases against6 The Thirsty Parrot, The Dutch Mill Tavern and Meadow Muffins on Friday. The board can suspend or revoke licenses and impose fines.

The Internal Revenue Service said today that it is looking for 2,312 Colorado taxpayers who were mailed a tax refund but had it returned as undeliverable. Those taxpayers likely moved or had a mistake in their mailing address. If you haven’t received your refund, call the IRS or check the list on gazette.com’s business page.

New-car owners may have a little less to be thankful for next week if they arrive at any Department of Motor Vehicles office to get permanent license plates and the doors are locked. It is one of several consequences of El Paso County’s decision to close offices around the holidays in an effort to rescue this year’s budget from the red line.

A 19-year-old man was robbed and clubbed at about 11:40 p.m. Tuesday in the 3200 block of Springnite Drive in southeast Colorado Springs. The victim was walking home when two men rolled up in a grey sedan, according to police reports. One man reportedly pointed a handgun at the victim's head while the second man reached into the victim's pants pocket. The victim tried to run but was hit in the head by the handgun. No police units were available to respond immediately to the incident, police said.

As the number of new TV shows dwindles, the writers strike will begin to hit home, says Gazette TV writer Andrew Wineke. Find out how many of your favorite shows are left in Thursday Life.

Senior receiver/running back Chad Hall has commanded the spotlight at Air Force recently, but in the meantime senior quarterback Shaun Carney quietly has put together one of the best and most efficient stretches of his career. This season, Carney has become the academy’s all-time leader in total offense (7,598 yards), passing yards (5,222) and passing touchdowns (38). His career completion percentage of 62 percent is the highest in Air Force history.

EVENTS TONIGHT

RYAN BINGHAM: 9 p.m., Black Sheep, 2106 E. Platte Ave., $8; www.ticketweb.com.

SIMULCAST OF LIVE CONCERT WITH GARTH BROOKS AND TRISHA YEARWOOD: 7 p.m., simulcast Nov. 14, encore presentation Nov. 15, Cinemark Carefree Circle, 3305 Cinema Point and Tinseltown, 1545 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd., $10; www.fathomevents.com.

J.R. BROW: Loonees Comedy Corner, 1305 N. Academy Blvd. Times and costs; 591-0707 or www.loonees. com.

SPORTS TONIGHT

Air Force's men's basketball team hosts Western State at 7 p.m. on 740 AM. The Denver Nuggets host Portland at 7 on Altitude (950 AM). The Lakers are at the Rockets at 7 on ESPN.

In men's college basketball, North Carolina is at Davidson at 5 on ESPN and an NIT Season Tip-Off game with Utah vs. Washington is at 8:30 on ESPN2.

Akron visits Miami of Ohio in football at 5:30 on ESPN2.

In tennis, the ATP Masters Cup is shown on ESPN at 2 a.m. Thursday.