Pearl Street Shooting: Victims & Suspect Details
BREAKING: Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the suspect in the Pearl Street shooting, faces first-degree murder charges following a targeted attack on a pro-Israel demonstration. Authorities confirm the suspect, an Egyptian citizen unlawfully in the U.S.,used an incendiary device and makeshift flamethrower.The attack occurred on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall; eight victims, ranging from 52 to 88 years old, were injured. The incident is being investigated as an act of terrorism, according to federal officials. News Directory 3 is tracking the latest developments, including the ongoing FBI investigation and the condition of the victims. Discover what’s next as officials uncover the motive behind this violent act.
Suspect in Boulder Pearl Street Attack Held on Murder Charge
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the man accused of attacking eight people on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall, is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, according to jail records. The Boulder attack occurred Sunday afternoon.Police confirmed Monday that none of the victims have died.
Soliman,an Egyptian citizen,was booked into Boulder County Jail on suspicion of multiple felonies,including murder and assault. His bond is set at $10 million. He was residing in Colorado illegally on an expired tourist visa, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Tricia mclaughlin, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said Soliman entered the U.S. in August 2022 on a visa that expired in February 2023. He filed for asylum in September 2022,but the status of that motion is unclear. DHS and ICE officials have not commented on Soliman’s country of origin or whether an immigration hearing is scheduled.
FBI agents conducted court-authorized law enforcement activity in El Paso County, where Soliman was living, related to the Pearl Street investigation.
The victims, four men and four women between 52 and 88 years old, were identified by Boulder police and the FBI. At least four victims were initially treated at Boulder Community Health. Celanie Pinnell, a hospital spokeswoman, said all patients treated there were either transferred or discharged Sunday evening.UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital’s burn unit is treating three patients. Updates on their conditions were unavailable Monday.
The attack occurred at 1:26 p.m. on Pearl Street Mall as the city’s chapter of Run for Their Lives arrived outside the Boulder County Historic Courthouse during their weekly demonstration walk. Run for Their Lives advocates for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Federal officials have characterized the incident as a “targeted act of violence” and terrorism.
Officials said Soliman threw an incendiary device into the crowd and used a “makeshift flamethrower” to set people on fire. Mark Michalek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Denver field office, said Soliman yelled “Free palestine” during the attack. The incident occurred just before the jewish holiday of Shavuot.
“This attack was aimed against peaceful people who wished to express their solidarity with the hostages held by Hamas, simply because they were Jews,” Israeli Prime Minister benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
Following the attack, police evacuated multiple blocks of the pedestrian mall. Evacuations were lifted by Monday morning, but goverment buildings in the area remained closed, according to the Boulder Office of Disaster Management.
What’s next
The investigation into the Pearl Street Mall attack is ongoing,with federal and local authorities working to determine the full scope of the suspect’s motives and connections.