A shooting in Denver has left a gay man in critical condition (Getty Images, stock)

A road rage shooting targeting a gay married couple in Denver left one of the men in critical condition following a shot to the head.

According to new court documents, two heterosexual men riding an e-bike shouted anti-gay slurs at the couple, who were driving a car, before one of the cyclists shot one of the men in the head.

The shooting took place on the evening of 1 August while the couple were driving home in the Commerce City area of Denver. The men on the e-bike allegedly cut them off in traffic, according to the victim who wasn’t shot.

KDVR News reported that the driver of the car honked his horn and flashed his lights, which escalated to the cyclists following them and “calling them ‘f******‘ and other derogatory comments.”

Still being tailed by the cyclists, the couple then bypassed their own apartment complex. However, the cyclists turned into the complex’s entrance. Security footage of the incident shows the motorists then pulling up to the entrance.

The driver reported that he saw a flashlight pointed at the car before hearing a pop sound and the back windshield shattering, and realising that his husband in the passenger seat had been shot in the head.

He reported hearing him “snoring”, which police have shared was agonal breathing caused by a lack of oxygen following a traumatic injury.

The suspect was later identified as Jacob Sifuentez, who was arrested three days later and charged with two counts of attempted murder. Sifuentez initially denied being involved in the incident and pleaded the Fifth while being interviewed by police.

According to court documents, Sifuentez later admitted to carrying out the shooting and said in an interview that he deserved the consequences after hearing that the man who had been shot was in critical condition.