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Boulder staff brief council on June 1 Pearl Street Mall attack; outlines victim support, security steps
Summary
City staff told the Boulder City Council that a coordinated multiagency response on June 1 helped apprehend a suspect and care for victims; the city described emergency sheltering, communications, and enhanced downtown security measures and pledged ongoing support to affected residents and businesses.
City staff provided Boulder City Council with an update on the 06/01/2025 Pearl Street Mall attack, describing the emergency response, victim support efforts and planned security enhancements.
City Manager Nuria (identified in the meeting transcript by first name) told council that dispatchers received frantic 911 calls starting at about 1:26 p.m. on June 1, that Boulder police, fire rescue and open-space rangers rapidly responded, and that a first officer arrived within roughly four minutes of the initial call. “This targeted act of antisemitism and terror … we stand in sadness and solidarity with our Jewish community members,” Nuria said during the briefing.
Why it matters: Council heard that the incident injured multiple people, required coordinated multijurisdictional response and prompted immediate planning for victim services and near-term changes to downtown operations and event security.
Staff described a sequence of operational and support actions taken after the attack: dispatch and first responders tending to victims and apprehending the suspect; detectives and evidence technicians assembling a criminal case; activation of the city’s emergency operations center to coordinate logistics and communications; three press conferences and a joint briefing with the district attorney; and the setup of an emergency shelter at the East Boulder Community Center for evacuees. The city said communications staff provided continuous public updates and coordinated information among partner agencies.
Nuria thanked local, county, state and federal partners, and named several agencies and vendors that assisted with medical transport, fire suppression and law enforcement support, including Boulder Fire Rescue Department, several surrounding fire districts, American Medical Response, Flight for Life Colorado and MedEvac, the University of Colorado Police Department, Colorado State Patrol and the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. Nuria also said the FBI was contacted early in the investigation and that local investigators were following protocol to preserve prosecution options.
The briefing said the Downtown Boulder Partnership and the Boulder Chamber coordinated business reentry and that the city lit the Boulder Star (with Open Space and Mountain Parks and the Chamber) from June 2–June 8 as a symbol of solidarity. Staff noted that the city supported two community gatherings — one with the governor’s office and one with the Boulder Jewish Community Center — and that the Community Foundation helped coordinate a letter condemning the attack.
On public safety measures, staff described stepped-up visible patrols, a new ebike patrol and a dedicated downtown team funded in last year’s budget, additional security at Pearl Street restrooms, increased coordination with regional partners and the Downtown Boulder Partnership block officers program. Nuria said the community should expect continued increased security presence and enhanced community-engagement efforts. “PD’s continued ask of community members … if you see something, say something remains more important than ever,” Nuria said.
Council members thanked staff and first responders and expressed support for victims and downtown businesses. Several council members also urged continuing and expanded mental-health and trauma support for both victims and downtown workers; one councilor asked staff to consider how recovery resources used after past local disasters could be reactivated or adapted for this event.
City staff said additional operational details of security measures would not be released publicly so as not to compromise safety. The briefing included specific short-term items (emergency sheltering and bus reroutes) and longer-term planning (security coordination for the upcoming Boulder Jewish Festival and ongoing downtown protection measures).
The council took no formal policy vote on the briefing itself; earlier in the meeting the council had amended the agenda to add this staff briefing as item 1a.
The city’s public materials and the briefing emphasized victim support, interagency coordination and an ongoing review of downtown security and community supports as next steps.
