A man killed in an apparent robbery outside his tattoo shop had recently opened his business, fulfilling a longtime goal, his grieving father said this afternoon.

Joshua Trobaugh, 27, was gunned down as he left his store, Mr. Tank's tattoo shop in the 6600 block of East Colfax Ave., shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday.

Denver police are still looking for the suspects and have indicated they believe the shooting occurred during a holdup.

David Trobaugh, who lives in South Dakota, said his son moved to Denver when he was 18 to pursue his lifelong fascination with tattoos.

"He was just amazed with tattoos," said Trobaugh, who is divorced from Joshua's mother, who lives in the Denver metro area.

His son didn't do the artwork himself — his artistry was in setting up the business and creating the atmosphere.

"He did the whole shop himself — I mean everything," Trobaugh said.

Trobaugh said funeral arrangements are on hold until authorities release his son's body.

In the meantime, the investigation is continuing.

Detective John White, a spokesman with Denver police, said earlier today that it was unclear whether the victim was alone or if other people were in the shop at the time.

White said the victim was taken to Denver Health Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Ed Thomas, owner of World Class Barber Shop next door, said the victim worked on the tattoo shop for about a month before his business opened.

Thomas said the shop is named after the owner's bulldog, Mr. Tank.

"The shop was going real well," Thomas said.

He said the owner has about five tattoo artists working there.

"This is a pretty good neighborhood. You wouldn't think something like this would happen here," he said.

Thomas said the owner is married and has no children.