Boulder Police Press Conference Transcript on Supermarket Shooting

Kerry Yamaguchi: (01:02)
Good evening. Can everybody hear me okay? As [Dion 00:01:08] shared, we had a very tragic incident today here at the King Soopers. There was loss of life. We have multiple people who were killed in this incident, and I am sorry to have to report that one of them was a Boulder police officer. During this trying time, I would ask the media and the public to honor the privacy of the officer’s family and his coworkers here at the police department.

I will also share that we got tremendous support from our fellow law enforcement agencies, both in Boulder County, which some of them you see behind me, the FBI, ATF, and other Denver metro agencies. Without that quick response, we don’t know if there would’ve been more loss of life. I can share with the public today, or this evening, that there is no ongoing public threat, that we do have a person of interest in custody. That person was injured during the incident and is being treated for the injuries.

Michael Dougherty: (02:39)
Good evening. My name is Michael Dougherty. I’m the district attorney for Boulder County. This is a tragedy and a nightmare for Boulder County. And in response, we have cooperation and assistance from local state and federal authorities. This will very much be a coordinated effort, and we will stand united in support of the victims and their families to ensure that justice is done.

It’s a very early stage in the investigation, as you’ve heard, and we have a lot of work to do. But we’ll be giving out more information as that becomes available and as we nail down the facts here. As Commander Yamaguchi said, there is an individual in custody currently with multiple victims. And we’ll be doing everything we can to fight for them and their families to make sure that we reach the right and just outcome. Thank you.

Kelly McGannon: (03:31)
Good evening. I’m Kelly McGannon, spokesperson for King Soopers. Our hearts are broken over this senseless act of violence. The entire King Soopers family offers our thoughts, prayers, and support to our associates, our customers, and first responders who so bravely responded to these acts of violence. We are working in full cooperation with local law enforcement, and we’ll be deferring all questions to them for the integrity of the investigation. Thank you.

Speaker 1: (04:02)
We’ll take a few questions.

Speaker 5: (04:07)
Commander, can you tell us what happened?

As has already been mentioned, we’re very early in the investigation. As Dion shared that we responded here, officers were here within minutes of the initial 911 calls and entered the building very quickly.

Speaker 7: (04:32)
[crosstalk 00:04:32].

Speaker 6: (04:33)
Do you know any possible motive for this?

Very early in the investigation. We don’t have any details that I can share at this point. There will be additional information released as it’s gathered and it’s appropriate to release, but that will come from the Boulder Police Department.

Speaker 7: (04:50)

Speaker 8: (04:52)
Can you confirm the number of deaths, sir? Can you confirm the number of deaths?

Speaker 9: (04:53)
When did the call come in?

Speaker 1: (04:53)
Just before 3:00.

Just before 3:00 today.

Speaker 10: (04:59)
Can you tell us how many people have died?

We’re very early in the investigation. We are still processing the scene.

Speaker 11: (05:07)
Do you know if the shooter said anything as the shooter entered the building?

That will be part of the investigation.

Speaker 12: (05:14)
What happened on 17th Street?

That was unrelated, we believe, to this incident.

Speaker 13: (05:20)
Was there only one shooter?

We’re still investigating.

Speaker 14: (05:24)
Were there injuries in addition to those who were killed?

Speaker 1: (05:28)
Were there injuries in addition to those who were killed?

At this point, the only injured party we are aware of, a significant injury, was the suspect. We know of no other serious injuries at this point.

Speaker 7: (05:46)

Speaker 15: (05:46)
[crosstalk 00:05:46] information about the suspect?

No.

Speaker 16: (05:50)
Do you know if there was any relationship between the gunman and the people that were shot?

That will be part of the investigation.

Speaker 18: (05:56)
You know how many people were in the store?

Speaker 10: (05:57)
When you say multiple fatalities, can you tell us how many?

No. We don’t know. They’re still processing the scene.

Speaker 19: (06:03)
You don’t know?

Speaker 20: (06:03)
Are there more than five, sir?

Speaker 18: (06:03)
Do you know how many people were in the store at the time?

Don’t know.

Speaker 21: (06:04)
How many are in the hospital [inaudible 00:06:04] in the hospital or dead?

Don’t know how many are at the hospital currently. I know for sure there is one.

Speaker 22: (06:16)
Commander, was there video cameras that might’ve taped what happened?

That’s all going to be part of the investigation.

Speaker 20: (06:23)
Does this man have any connection at all to King Soopers or any of the workers?

I’m not aware of that. I don’t know. That’s part of the investigation.

Speaker 23: (06:32)
Was your first call of a man and an active shooter in the parking lot, then it moved in inside?

I haven’t had a chance to review any of those calls, and so I can’t tell you in what order things were reported to us.

Speaker 20: (06:46)
Was this man wearing military-style gear?

Speaker 24: (06:48)
Can you tell us something about the weapon he used?

I’m sorry, I got two questions.

Speaker 20: (06:51)
Was he wearing military-style gear during this?

Don’t know. That’ll be part of the investigation.

Speaker 25: (06:56)
What about the weapon?

Don’t have information on that. As I said, the crime scene folks have just very recently entered the crime scene to start processing it.

Speaker 13: (07:06)
Is the shirtless guy the person of interest? The shirtless man who was seen taken out in handcuffs and put in an ambulance?

Since I would be speculating of who you’re talking about, I can’t confirm that. I don’t know.

Speaker 26: (07:18)
Commander, not to be critical, but it’s been more than three hours since you’ve gotten the call. You can’t tell us how many people are dead?

I don’t have that information right now.

Speaker 26: (07:26)
Does anybody?

That’ll be part of the investigation.

Speaker 27: (07:29)
Is the suspect at Boulder Community?

If I could just interject one moment, there’s a lot of investigation already underway. A lot of things are being realized as the crime scene’s being processed, including the number of victims, which is known to police investigators. But I want to stress that victims’ family members are still being notified, so we’re being really sensitive to the victims’ families. So I appreciate Commander Yamaguchi not giving out more information at this point. But even for the facts of which we’re certain, those conversations are going to happen with the families first. Those conversations are now taking place.

Speaker 7: (08:03)

We’re going to be talking to the families first and then giving out more information.

Speaker 28: (08:09)
I don’t see the connection between the two.

Okay. Well, Boulder Police Department’s going to be giving out that information. I recognize the need to get the information out as soon as possible, I do, but I also recognize that we have one suspect in custody. We’re going to ensure that justice is done. And to do that, we’re going to make sure we have the facts certain and understood before we start sharing them with the media and the public. That’s going to happen-

Speaker 17: (08:30)
What’s the suspect’s name?

That’s going to happen in the next couple hours.

Speaker 6: (08:32)
Can you describe the suspect?

Speaker 8: (08:34)
[inaudible 00:08:34] shared the motive with you? You don’t have to share the motive, but has he presented why he did what he did?

I do not have any information as to motive at this point. It’s really early in the investigation. Thank-

Speaker 29: (08:44)
Can you release his identification, his name?

I cannot do that at this point, but I could promise you the Boulder Police Department’s going to be releasing more information in the next few hours.

Speaker 30: (08:51)
How are families who might’ve been impacted by this, maybe looking for loved ones, being notified that their family members are okay? Can you tell us that?

The CU Police Department is helping with family members that may have questions about loved ones. And Chief Jokerst will be able by more information for family members to contact the CU Police Department for information.

Speaker 28: (09:11)
Is the suspect in custody currently scheduled to appear in court?

There is a suspect in custody. There’s no scheduled court appearances as yet.

Speaker 31: (09:18)
Have there been any charges that have been filed? Will any charges be filed?

Well, the suspect is being treated medically at the hospital right now. I can promise you that we’re going to ensure the right thing happens with this case.

Speaker 31: (09:31)
Do you only have one person of interest?

Speaker 20: (09:33)
[crosstalk 00:09:33] Boulder area?

That’s all I have at this point, but I appreciate you being here, and we’ll be giving out more information. The Boulder Police Department will be in charge of giving out more information. I’m going to ask Chief Jokerst, if she will, just to let family members know where they could go or call in for notifications on possible victims.

Speaker 9: (09:50)
If people were in the parking lot or saw something, who should they call to give that statement?

Thank you for that question. If there are witnesses out there who have information, and there were many witnesses to this who are cooperating with the investigation already, but if there are additional witnesses, they should contact the Boulder Police Department. Let me turn it over to Chief Jokerst.

Chief Jokerst: (10:09)
If there was witnesses that saw this event, they can contact (303)441-3333, and that’s the main number to the Boulder Police Department.

Speaker 32: (10:19)
Can you say that one more time [inaudible 00:10:20]?

Chief Jokerst: (10:20)
Yeah, no problem. (303)441-3333, and that’s the main number to the Boulder Police Department. If there’s family or loved ones that have questions as well, they can contact that main number, and they’ll be sent an address in regards to additional information there.

Speaker 5: (10:39)
[crosstalk 00:10:39] the courage of your officer. We’re told he or she went back in, saved lives by what they did.

Speaker 1: (10:45)
That’s all the questions we can take right now. I know you wanted more information, but we don’t have any more information we can share at this time. We will continue to post all information that we can on our Twitter, and we will announce the next press conference as soon as we know.

Speaker 7: (10:57)

Speaker 19: (10:59)
[crosstalk 00:10:59] how you don’t know how many deaths there are?

Speaker 1: (11:00)
We are hoping to have more information to release later this evening, yes.

Speaker 33: (11:04)
Will there be a procession for the fallen officer?

Speaker 29: (11:06)
[crosstalk 00:11:06] will probably want to know if he should stay on scene or if we should go home.

Speaker 1: (11:10)
I will find out, and we will let you know.

Speaker 29: (11:11)
Okay. How long will this place be blocked off?

Speaker 1: (11:14)
We will continue to ask everybody to avoid the area. This is going to be blocked off for quite some time, so please continue [inaudible 00:11:20] individuals to avoid this area.

Speaker 14: (11:22)
Ma’am, [inaudible 00:11:23] media has already reported there were six victims. Can you correct that or confirm that? Because it’s already out there.

Speaker 19: (11:31)
It is.

Speaker 1: (11:33)
We will have more information to release soon. Thank you for your patience.

Speaker 7: (11:37)

Speaker 19: (11:38)
[crosstalk 00:11:38] don’t know how many there are.

Speaker 1: (11:39)
There will be more information released tonight. Yes, there will.

Speaker 34: (11:41)
Is it a man a suspect, or a woman?

Speaker 29: (11:44)
There’s going to be more information …

Boulder Police Press Conference Transcript on Supermarket Shooting

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