University of Colorado student killed, another critical case, following shooting at Halloween party

Two men, both 19-year-old students at the University of Colorado, were shot and killed Saturday night after police broke up a Halloween party in Boulder’s The Hill neighborhood near campus.

One of those students died after being taken by ambulance to Boulder Community Hospital, Boulder Police Department Chief Stephen Redfearn said at a 9 a.m. news conference Sunday.

Redfearn called the incident a “heinous crime” as he explained the details that led 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, according to Redfearn.

Just before 10 p.m., a noise complaint was filed with 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 that the party reached the level of nuisance for the neighborhood. A very intoxicated person was arrested and the party organizers were ticketed, Redfearn said.

This started the process of closing down the party. Most of the crowd has left.

“A select group of people, including the tenants, remained in the house,” Redfearn said.

At approximately 11:30 p.m., after the police had left, reports were called to 9-1-1 indicating that a shooting had occurred at the same location.

Redfearn said the shooting happened as “a group tried to force their way into the house to join the party.”

In the hours that followed, investigators identified two persons of interest whose images were captured on camera. Their images were recorded immediately before the shooting, a BPD spokesperson confirmed.

“It’s imperative that we talk to them,” Redfearn said.

The two men were described as follows:

• Person 1: A man with short, dark hair and facial hair, wearing a red hooded sweatshirt under a black jacket.
• Person 2: A man with short, dark hair, wearing a black shirt with Art the Clown on it and a silver chain necklace.

Speakers at the press conference refused to characterize these two men as suspects.

Redfearn said investigators were interviewing 20 witnesses to the shooting.

Boulder PD shut down the area around the home during their investigation. CUPD also secured a perimeter around the west side of campus.

Residents and homeowners were allowed to return home at 2 a.m. The shooting suspects were believed to have left town at that time, BPD said on social media.

Redfearn and University of Colorado Boulder Police Chief Ashley Griffin said both departments will increase patrols at The Hill today. The 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 news conference. “The response has been a massive, coordinated effort. Progress has already been made. We will most likely solve this crime, and I promise we will hold the shooter(s) fully accountable for the devastation and trauma they caused.”

Investigators are requesting photos and videos from people who attended the party or witnessed the shooting. These images can be submitted online at https://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.