University of Colorado student killed, another critical, following gunfire at Halloween party
By Logan Smith
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DENVER, Colorado (KCNC) — Two men, both 19-year-old University of Colorado students, were shot late Saturday night after police shut down a Halloween house party on The Hill area of Boulder adjacent to the campus.
One of those students died after being taken by ambulance to Boulder Community Hospital, Boulder Police Department Chief Stephen Redfearn stated at 9 a.m. press conference Sunday.
Redfearn called the incident a “heinous crime” as he explained details leading up to it. The party, he said, was registered in advance by its organizers with the university. It featured a live band and “hundreds” of people in attendance, per Redfearn.
Just before 10 p.m., a noise complaint was called in to Boulder dispatchers. BPD officers responded to the party near the intersection of 7th Street and Marine Street, about six blocks west of the CU Boulder campus. They judged the party to reach the level of a nuisance to the neighborhood. One highly intoxicated person was taken into custody and the party’s organizers were issued a ticket, Redfearn explained.
That began the process of the party shutting down. Most of the crowd left.
“A core group of people, including the renters, remained at the house,” Redfearn said.
Around 11:30 p.m., after officers had departed, reports were phoned in to 9-1-1 that a shooting had occurred at the same location.
Redfearn said the shooting happened as “a group tried to force its way into the home to join the party.”
CU students received an alert about the shooting.
“Super scary,” said CU student Namitha. “Obviously, for something like that to happen just feels so unreal.”
Sunday morning, investigators identified two persons of interest whose images were caught on videotape. Their images were recorded immediately prior to the shooting, a BPD spokesperson confirmed.
“It is imperative that we speak with them,” Redfearn said.
The two men were described as:
-Person 1: A man with short, dark hair and facial hair, wearing a red hooded sweatshirt underneath a black jacket. -Person 2: A man with short, dark hair, wearing a black shirt with Art the Clown on it and a silver-colored chain necklace.
Speakers at the press conference declined to refer to those two men as suspects.
Hours later, BPD released more images of other young people whom investigators are trying to identify and contact.
Redfearn said investigators were interviewing 20 witnesses to the shooting.
Boulder PD closed the area around the home during its investigation. CUPD also secured a perimeter around the west side of campus.
Residents and homeowners were allowed to return to their homes at 2 a.m. It was believed the suspects in the shooting had left the city by that time, BPD stated on social media.
Namitha said she wasn’t sure if it was safe to go back to her neighborhood with the suspects still out there.
“It’s like it’s Halloween night. Of course, there’s like tons of students going around, like not sober. And for the police to have such minimal communication with students,” said Namitha. “That there’s a shooting and nothing else till the next morning. I think it’s just ridiculous.”
Redfearn and University of Colorado Boulder Police Chief Ashley Griffin said both departments would increase patrols in The Hill on Sunday. This incident is the first homicide in Boulder this year, Redfearn added.
“This is an incredibly tragic event,” 20th Judicial District Attorney Michael Dougherty said at the press conference. “The response has been a massive coordinated effort. Progress has already been made. We are very likely going to solve this crime, and I promise we will hold the shooter or shooters fully accountable for the devastation and trauma they’ve caused.”
CU Boulder shared this statement, which read, in part, “This is an incredibly traumatic event for our campus community. Our thoughts and sympathies are with all those impacted by this tragedy…”
Investigators are asking for photos and videos from people who attended the party or witnessed the shooting. Those images can be submitted online at bouldercopd.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/2610148
If anyone recognizes the persons of interest, they are asked to contact investigators directly through Boulder PD dispatch at 303 411-333 in reference to case 26-10148.
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