District Attorney Michael Dougherty and Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn on Thursday described an ongoing criminal investigation into a weekend attack near the Justice Center and said the district attorney's office filed a complaint and information that includes 62 counts tied to victims and 18 related crimes-of-violence designations.
The complaint filed Thursday lists attempted-murder and assault charges and other counts, Dougherty said. The document lists 15 human victims — eight women and seven men — ages 25 to 88, and an injured dog. Three victims remained hospitalized, he said. The U.S. attorney's office is expected to file federal hate-crime charges, Dougherty added.
Dougherty said the complaint includes attempted murder counts connected to 14 victims and other counts that include assault in the first degree, use of an incendiary device and attempted use of incendiary devices. He described the filing as reflecting the evidence the office has gathered and said the preliminary hearing at the state level is scheduled for the afternoon of July 15.
"The charges reflect the evidence that we have regarding this horrific attack," District Attorney Michael Dougherty said. "The defendant's entitled to a fair trial in Boulder County and at the federal level, and we need to make sure that happens."
Chief Redfearn summarized the initial law-enforcement and emergency response timeline drawn from computer-aided dispatch data, body cameras and GPS. The 911 call was received at 1:26 p.m.; the call was dispatched about 50 seconds later at 1:27 p.m.; a first Boulder police officer arrived at about 1:30 p.m.; and the suspect was in custody about 1:31 p.m., Redfearn said. He said two officers were on scene within about four minutes and a sergeant arrived about 1:34 p.m. Fire rescue and American Medical Response units were dispatched at 1:27 p.m.; the first battalion chief arrived at 1:31 p.m.; ambulances and air medical transports were requested within minutes; and paramedic fire engines began rendering aid immediately.
"According to our CAD, our security dispatch as well as body cameras and GPS, we know the call came into our dispatch center at 01:26PM," Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said. "Our first Boulder police officer was on scene about 4 minutes later at 01:30PM, and he had the suspect in custody about 01:31PM."
Both officials said the investigation is ongoing and urged anyone who witnessed the attack and has not yet spoken with investigators to make contact. The district attorney's office said it had met with many victims earlier in the day alongside the FBI, Boulder Police and the U.S. attorney's office.
Officials also outlined public-safety plans for several community events scheduled in the coming days. Chief Redfearn said the city will deploy a large law-enforcement presence, including visible uniformed officers, SWAT elements, drones and likely plainclothes officers, and asked the public to report suspicious activity.
"We will have a very visible law enforcement presence. We are bringing in SWAT elements. We will have drones. We will have plainclothes people in the crowd as well," Redfearn said, describing measures intended to make attendees feel safe and to deter potential attackers.
Reporters asked whether family members of the suspect would be investigated or prosecuted. Dougherty said investigators were interviewing witnesses and that if evidence showed family members aided or encouraged the attack, prosecutors would consider charges; he added his office had no specific information to announce at that time. On immigration status questions, Dougherty said his office was not directly handling immigration matters but that ensuring the defendant remained in the country to face prosecution was a priority and that federal partners were involved.
Dougherty thanked the community for support of the victims and urged residents to attend upcoming events if they wish while remaining vigilant. He said his office will make itself available to the media after court appearances where ethical limits allow further comment.
Officials said a dog was injured in the attack and appeared with other victims at Thursday's appearance.
The investigation remains active; officials did not announce additional charges or arrests beyond the complaint filed Thursday, and they cautioned that legal constraints limit what prosecutors and law enforcement can say while the case is pending.