Karen Diamond, a Denver-area woman, has passed away from injuries sustained in an antisemitic assault in Boulder, leading prosecutors to elevate charges against the suspect to state-level first-degree murder. The attack, which is now being treated as a hate crime, has shaken Boulder’s Jewish community to its core and occurs amidst a disturbing escalation of antisemitic violence nationwide.
Victim Identified as Karen Diamond
The June 25 deceased at age 82 was named Karen Diamond. She was buried privately with close relatives in attendance, as stated by authorities and members of her synagogue, Boulder’s Congregation Bonai Shalom. According to USA Today, the victim, named Diamond, was among a group of people peacefully protesting to bring awareness to Israeli hostages being held in Gaza.
Community and Officials Mourn the Loss
Rabbi Marc Soloway made the news of Diamond’s death public in a statement released on June 30. She stated, “There are no words to express the pain of this horrific loss of our beloved member and friend. We will need to support each other as we process this loss.” Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty made a second statement calling Diamond’s death “horrific.”
He added, “Part of what makes Colorado special is that people come together in response to a tragedy; I know that the community will continue to unite in supporting the Diamond family and all the victims of this attack.”
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, is a father of five and an Uber driver by occupation. Jailed Soliman was already accused by federal prosecutors of hate crimes, and now he also faces other legal consequences. New state-level charges were announced against him by prosecutors on June 30, which include first-degree murder and 66 more counts related to the attack.
Details of the Attack and Legal Proceedings
Federal authorities disclosed that he was residing in the United States well beyond the expiration of his visa. According to police, Soliman, who is Muslim, confirmed he targeted the “Run for Their Lives” walk along Boulder’s Pearl Street pedestrian mall because he was upset about the event’s participants appearing to support Israel’s Gaza war. The weekly walk, which was supported by large numbers of Jewish community members, was intended to raise awareness about Hamas hostages captured during the October 2023 Israel attack. During the assault,
Soliman reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” before unleashing violence. He now faces state charges tied to 29 victims, including 13 who suffered physical injuries, as well as animal cruelty charges related to a dog that was harmed in the attack. Federal prosecutors have not yet confirmed whether additional federal charges will be filed.