Federal, state prosecutors charge suspect in Pearl Street Molotov attack; 12 victims identified

Boulder — Federal and state prosecutors announced charges Tuesday against a man accused of throwing incendiary devices during a peaceful gathering on Pearl Street, saying the attack targeted people because of their perceived affiliation and left 12 people injured.

Acting U.S. Attorney Bishop Grull said his office charged Mohammed Sabri Salomon, 45, "with the commission of a hate crime under 18 U.S.C. § 249," an offense that, when it includes attempted murder, carries a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison.

The charges come alongside state filings. Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said his office charged Salomon with 16 counts of first-degree attempted murder — eight alleging intent and deliberation and eight alleging extreme indifference — plus multiple counts related to use and attempted use of an incendiary device. If sentences on those counts were ordered to run consecutively, Dougherty said, the combined maximum would total years in prison. A judge set a $10,000,000 cash-only bond on the state charges.

Why it matters: The federal hate-crime charge signals prosecutors’ view that the alleged attack was motivated by bias. The dual federal-state approach also follows a pattern in recent mass-violence cases in Colorado and allows prosecutors to pursue separate legal theories and penalties.

Investigative and scene details

Mark McCulloch, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Denver field office, said the FBI has deployed more than 30 agents and staff and has conducted 44 witness interviews and multiple search warrants, including at a residence in Colorado Springs. He said investigators recovered 16 unused Molotov cocktails "within arms reach of the subject" at the time of arrest and executed evidence-gathering operations that allowed Pearl Street to reopen.

"We at the FBI are not tracking any credible threats to the Boulder community at this time," McCulloch said, adding that the agency continues to investigate all leads and will pursue anyone who aided or knew of the attack.

Chief Steven Redfearn of the Boulder Police Department said the department released the scene about 2 a.m., reopened streets so businesses could recover property, and will coordinate increased security for events over the coming week. "We will not condone these types of attacks," he said, and urged residents to report suspicious activity.

Victims and community response

Dougherty said investigators initially identified eight victims and later learned of four additional people who sustained injuries and came forward for interviews, bringing the total to 12 victims. He said two victims remained hospitalized and that investigators count everyone who suffered any injury in the attack.

Community leaders and law enforcement said they are meeting with representatives of Boulder’s Jewish community and other local leaders. Grull, Dougherty and McCulloch all expressed condolences and emphasized that the offices will pursue justice for the victims while noting that Salomon is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Procedural steps and public appeals

Officials said the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed the federal hate-crime charge within 24 hours of the attack and that the district attorney’s office will file a formal state charging document reflecting 12 victims; additional victims could be added if they come forward. Investigators asked the public to submit video, photos or tips to a digital tip line established by the FBI and provided a phone number for information.

What authorities said about the suspect and related searches

Officials identified the defendant as Mohammed Sabri Salomon, 45. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at a Colorado Springs residence tied to the subject and recovered evidence, including digital material; prosecutors said they are reviewing that material to determine whether additional charges are warranted. Authorities said the suspect was not previously on local law enforcement radar in Boulder.

Legal authorities cited

Grull cited 18 U.S.C. § 249 in announcing the federal hate-crime charge. Dougherty described state charges of first-degree attempted murder and multiple counts involving incendiary devices; he did not cite a specific Colorado statute number during the briefing.

A note on names and procedure

At the briefing, officials requested patience as prosecutions proceed and said the U.S. Attorney’s Office will issue a brief news release later in the day. The agencies do not anticipate another large public briefing immediately and said they will provide media updates as the cases move through state and federal courts.