DENVER -- A man eating inside a Japanese and Chinese restaurant just feet away from the 16th Street Mall was killed when he was shot multiple times Thursday afternoon.

The man, who has not been identified, was transported to Denver Health where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Police said the victim was shot as a result of a fight that erupted between two groups of people inside the Chopsticks & Sushi Restaurant on Welton Street near 16th Street.

"Through the investigation it has been determined that there was a physical altercation between several individuals inside the restaurant. During this altercation, one of the individuals produced a gun and shot the victim," said Denver police spokeswoman Loretta M. Beauvais.

Investigators have taken several people in for questioning but would not identify any of them as suspects. However, police do not believe there is a gunman at large.

The award-winning Chopsticks & Sushi restaurant is around the corner from the 16th Street Mall, which is a popular pedestrian mall.

"I heard two loud gunshots around 3:15 p.m. It was very loud," said Peggy Irvin, who owns Body Massage Wellness Spa just two doors down from the restaurant.

She said when she ran out, she saw people stumbling out of the restaurant in a daze.

"I saw a girl crying and so I just asked if everything was OK and she said someone had been shot in the restaurant," Irvin said. "I feel very sick to my stomach right now ... It's very disturbing."

Irvin said police officers asked her and her spa clients if they'd seen anyone running for the restaurant. She hadn't. Irvin asked police what caused the shooting, but officers said it was hard to get details because of language barriers with the eatery's Asian staff.

Police cars blocked off Welton Street as investigators combed the scene.

The identity of the victim is not being released pending the notification of next of kin.

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