Crime
82-year-old Karen Diamond Dies from Injuries Sustained in Boulder Terror Attack
BOULDER, COLORADO – Karen Diamond, an 82-year-old Jewish woman, has died from critical injuries she sustained during a violent terror attack in Boulder on June 1, 2025.
Authorities confirmed her death over the weekend, prompting prosecutors to upgrade charges against the suspect to include first-degree murder and additional hate crime offenses.
The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, of Colorado Springs, is accused of carrying out a brutal assault using Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower, which injured 29 individuals—including Diamond—and a dog.
Investigators say Soliman has confessed to planning the attack for over a year and admitted to deliberately targeting what he described as “Zionists.”
Diamond was among the most seriously injured and had been hospitalized in critical condition for nearly a month before succumbing to her wounds.
Her death has intensified public outcry and deepened the impact of what officials are classifying as a hate-motivated domestic terror incident.
Authorities say Soliman acted alone and had pre-meditated the attack, selecting his target based on religious and political hatred. He now faces a slew of charges, including:
- First-degree murder
- 28 counts of attempted murder
- Multiple counts of first-degree assault
- Several felony hate crime charges
- Animal cruelty
Federal agencies are also involved in the investigation, and Soliman may face additional federal terrorism and civil rights violations.
“This was a heinous, premeditated act of hate that resulted in the tragic death of an innocent woman and injuries to many others,” Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in a statement. “We are committed to securing full justice for the victims, their families, and the broader community.”
The incident has sparked increased security concerns in Jewish communities across Colorado and beyond.
Community leaders have called for enhanced hate crime prevention measures and greater protection for vulnerable populations.
Soliman remains in custody without bond and is expected to appear in court later this week for a formal arraignment on the upgraded charges.
Orlando, Fla. — Family and friends of 33-year-old Julien Emmanuel Cruz are seeking answers and accountability following his fatal shooting outside a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub early Sunday morning.
According to the Orlando Police Department, officers responded at approximately 2:31 a.m. on February 22, 2026, to the 1900 block of North Orange Avenue, just north of Lake Ivanhoe, in reference to a reported shooting.
Upon arrival, officers located Cruz suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities confirmed Cruz was born May 18, 1992.
Detectives determined that prior to the shooting, Cruz and the suspect were involved in a verbal and physical altercation on the sidewalk outside the nightclub district. Investigators say that during the dispute, the suspect retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and shot Cruz.
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle, which patrol officers later located in the 200 block of East New Hampshire Avenue, approximately two blocks from where the shooting occurred.
Police subsequently arrested 37-year-old Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr (DOB: October 29, 1988). He has been charged with Second Degree Murder with a Firearm. Authorities confirmed this case marks the third homicide in Orlando in 2026.
Cruz’s father, Anthony Cruz, said his son and his partner had been at Savoy Orlando enjoying the evening before the violence unfolded.
According to the family, as the couple exited the club after closing time, a vehicle sped past them. Cruz’s partner allegedly yelled toward the occupants of the vehicle, prompting the car to stop. A physical altercation then reportedly began between Cruz’s partner and one of the individuals from the vehicle.
“When they fought, my son saw that was happening. My son went to intervene, and when he intervened, another guy got out of the car, and he got shot,” Anthony Cruz said. “My son didn’t deserve what happened. All I have left is a shirt — a shirt with a bullet hole.”
While police have charged Borja Gil De La Madr, Cruz’s family maintains that another individual may have been directly responsible for pulling the trigger. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether additional suspects are being sought.
A small memorial has formed across from the nightclub, where members of the community have gathered to honor Cruz’s memory.
Joshua Cooper, owner of Savoy Orlando, said the tragedy has deeply impacted the LGBTQ+ community, even though the shooting occurred off the club’s property.
“I didn’t know the victim, but from everything I’ve been told, I wish I had,” Cooper said. “He seemed like a great kid. Seeing a family that is so heartbroken and so supportive of this community says so much.”
The Orlando Police Department has not released additional information regarding potential additional suspects. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation and shooting.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Orlando Police Department or Crimeline.
The investigation remains active.