The condition of Sierra Moore, 8, who was wounded in a shooting in Curtis Park, was upgraded Saturday from critical to serious. According to police spokeswoman Detective Sharon Hahn, Sierra's wounds do not appear to be life threatening.

Denver police are offering a $2,000 reward to anyone who can help them find the suspects who wounded Sierra in an apparent drive-by shooting.

Sierra was shot as she was walking near Curtis Park with her 13-year-old aunt Friday evening. Police said Saturday that several shots were fired and she suffered serious injuries.

Police are looking for two vehicles that witnesses said left the area after the shooting. One is a newer model Ford Explorer or Expedition and the other is a black Honda Accord or Civic.

A few minutes before Sierra was shot, a shooting was reported about two blocks away. Officers believe those shots were fired from the Explorer or Expedition but no injuries were reported.

Sierra was taken to Denver Health Medical Center, where she underwent surgery Friday night.

A Ford Explorer with 22-inch chrome wheels carrying several people inside is believed to have been involved in that shooting, police said.

At about the same time, police also were alerted that someone was shot in the street at 33rd and Curtis streets, about a block away from Curtis Park.

Several suspects in a black Honda Accord four-door were believed to be involved in that shooting.

Sharon Mestas said she was on her porch when she heard about five pops she thought sounded like fireworks.

Mestas and a friend then looked down the block to the area of 32nd and Curtis streets and saw about a dozen people running north on Curtis from the area of the swimming pool on the north side of the park.

At that point Mestas realized that the popping sounds were gunshots.

"I didn't think nothing of it at first," she said. "My son and a friend were playing outside on the street and I told them to get over here."

About a minute after the shots were fired, Mestas heard a woman screaming a block away at the Burger King and headed over there.

When she got to the restaurant, she saw a young girl covered in blood, lying near the driveway of the drive-through, and at least three officers trying to revive her before paramedics arrived.

"I just hope the little girl makes it through," Mestas said. "It was so close to home."

Mestas said she saw a girl and a woman crossing the street at 33rd and Curtis just prior to hearing the gunshots, and saw the woman trying to hurry the girl up. Mestas said she believed it was the same girl who was shot and that the woman didn't realize the child was wounded initially.

Police were investigating three crime scenes - one at 32nd and Curtis streets, one at 33rd and Curtis streets and one at the Burger King, 3200 Downing Street.

Crime-scene tape blocked traffic from entering the area.

Detectives could be seen using flashlights looking at evidence markers left on the street.

It was not known if the shootings were connected to gang activity.

"It's too early in the investigation," said Detective Sharon Hahn, spokeswoman for Denver police. "We do not know if the two vehicles are connected, if the two vehicles were shooting at each other and the girl got caught in the crossfire," she said.

Caught in crossfire

* Dec. 21, 1995: Casson "Biscuit" Evans, 3, shot and killed while strapped into a car seat.

* March 23, 2001: Felix Sharp, 14, shot and killed at a party.

* Oct. 23, 2004: Mackenzie Kingry, 17, shot and killed at a party.

* Aug. 21, 2005: Celine, 7, and Kenia Venzor, 12, shot in their beds in Barnum neighborhood.

* March 29, 2006: Two sisters, 14 and 6, wounded outside their home in the Cole neighborhood. * Nov. 26, 2007: 10-year-old Auralia Cisneros fatally shot in the crossfire between her dad and alleged gang members.

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