Boulder Police have arrested an 18-year-old man in connection with the Halloween-night shooting that killed a University of Colorado Boulder student and wounded another at a house in the city's University Hill neighbourhood. Officers arrested Omar Perez, 18, of Thornton, early on Monday morning, November 2, Colorado Public Radio reported. Police said Perez is charged with first-degree murder — under the extreme-indifference theory — first-degree assault and attempted first-degree murder, and that he is not a CU Boulder student. The charges are allegations: Perez is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
Source: Colorado Public Radio
This arrest is the major new development in the Halloween-night shooting at a University Hill home that killed one CU Boulder student and wounded another — the attack Awaaz Punjab reported when it happened on October 31. Read the earlier report
The student who died: Luca Hanlon, 19
The Boulder County Coroner has identified the student who died as Luca Hanlon, a second-year media production student in CU Boulder's College of Communication, Media, Design and Information, the university confirmed in a statement on Monday, November 2. The university said its Dean of Students Office and Office of Victim Assistance are working with the CU Boulder Police Department and Boulder Police to support Hanlon's family and all students, faculty and staff affected, and it thanked Boulder Police for what it called a swift arrest. Students and staff who need support can reach the Office of Victim Assistance at 303-492-8855, the university said.
Source: CU Boulder (university statement, Nov. 2, 2026)
How the night unfolded: a party shut down, then gunfire
The shooting grew out of a Halloween party at the same home earlier that evening, in the University Hill neighbourhood beside the campus, near 7th and Marine streets. On their first visit, officers responded to a noise complaint and cited the residents for having a nuisance party; hundreds of people left the area when the party ended, and a smaller group remained inside the house, police said.
Just before 11:30 p.m., police were called back to the same residence for a shooting. Officers found Hanlon and another 19-year-old man with gunshot wounds. Both were taken to hospital; Hanlon died early on Sunday, November 1, and the second victim — whose name police have not released — remains in hospital, Colorado Public Radio reported.
Detectives believe a group of people attempted to force their way into the house, that shots were fired shortly after a scuffle, and that the suspects then fled the scene. Police say they believe Perez was the only shooter, while stressing that the wider investigation into everyone involved that night is not over.
Identified within 24 hours, arrested with three partner agencies
"Everyone in our community deserves to feel safe and while I hope this arrest restores some measure of safety, I know it will never bring back the life of this young man or undo all the trauma victims have gone through," Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said in a statement. Redfearn said detectives and officers worked nonstop from late Saturday, that good community tips led to the suspect's identity within 24 hours, and that Boulder officers then coordinated with the Thornton Police Department, the Westminster Police Department and the Adams County Sheriff's Office to take Perez into custody safely early on Monday.
Boulder Police say the investigation is ongoing and they are still looking for other people involved in the events of that night. Anyone who was at the party or has information is asked to contact Boulder Police at 303-441-3333 and reference case 26-10148.
What happens next
Perez now faces court proceedings in Boulder County on the murder, assault and attempted-murder charges, which remain allegations at this stage. The second student remains in hospital, and detectives are continuing to interview witnesses and review what happened between the party being shut down and the shooting roughly an hour and a half later. For the thousands of students who live in University Hill — the dense student neighbourhood pressed against the CU campus — and for families with children at the university, including international and diaspora students, the case has sharpened questions about off-campus party safety on the biggest party weekend of the fall. Awaaz Punjab will update this story as court dates and further police information are released.