Overview
- On June 1, 2025 a man attacked a peaceful Run For Their Lives march on Pearl Street Mall with Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower, killing 82‑year‑old Karen Diamond and injuring more than a dozen people.
- In May 2026 the attacker, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, pleaded guilty in state court and was sentenced to life without parole plus thousands of additional years after survivors described lasting physical and psychological trauma.
- A separate 12‑count federal hate‑crime case remains open and Soliman is scheduled to appear in federal court at the end of June as prosecutors consider whether to seek capital punishment.
- Boulder’s Jewish community has marked the first anniversary with memorials and increased security spending, while local groups raised six‑figure aid for victims and many survivors say they still struggle to feel safe in public spaces.
- The anniversary drew fresh controversy when an unsanctioned CU Boulder Students for Justice in Palestine post praising the assailant was posted and deleted, prompting condemnation from Jewish groups and some elected officials against the backdrop of a national rise in antisemitic incidents.