Suspect dead, Boulder police lift shelter-in-place order after standoff with armed man
The Boulder Police Department lifted a mandatory shelter-in-place order that was in place for several hours Monday as SWAT members attempted to negotiate with an armed suspect who ultimately took his own life.
The issues started earlier Monday morning on the CU Boulder campus. According to the Boulder police, they were called about a welfare check on a man in crisis around 11:36 a.m. The man reportedly threatened to shoot himself and others.
Someone called campus police around 1:38 p.m. when they witnessed a gun fall out of a man's pants as he walked across campus. The witness told them the man put the gun back in his pants and ran, then got in a car and drove away.
Police at CU Boulder temporarily issued an emergency alert asking those in the area to shelter in place. A large police presence reportedly responded to the Folsom Parking Garage/Champion Center area and they asked everyone to avoid the area while they worked to secure the garage and search for the suspect.
The campus police's shelter-in-place order remained in effect in the stadium area, including the Champion Center and Folsom Garage, until 3:29 p.m. They lifted the order once the Folsom Garage was secure.
Officers in both departments determined the two calls were connected and tentatively identified a suspect. According to the Boulder Police Department, the man was armed with a gun and was looking for a woman he used to have a relationship with. The suspect reportedly had an active domestic violence protection order.
After searching multiple areas, Boulder police reportedly spotted the suspect's vehicle around 3 p.m. Authorities issued a mandatory shelter-in-place order around 40th and Table Mesa after they contained his car in the area.
They said Boulder police's SWAT team was activated to attempt to take him peacefully into custody, but the suspect refused to drop the gun he was holding. Officers said the SWAT officers continued to negotiate with the suspect for over four hours, trying to convince him to drop the gun and surrender peacefully.
Around 7:17 p.m. the suspect reportedly took his own life.
Officials said the Boulder County Coroner's Office will identify the suspect and notify his next of kin.
The case remains under investigation. Boulder police asked that anyone with information call their tipline at (303) 441-1974 and reference case 25-1695.
