Omar Perez, 18, faces murder, assault and attempted murder charges after one student died and another remained hospitalized.
BOULDER, CO — An 18-year-old Thornton man was taken into custody Monday in connection with a Halloween night shooting near the University of Colorado Boulder campus that killed one 19-year-old student and wounded another, police said.
Omar Perez was arrested early Nov. 2 and faces charges of first-degree murder with extreme indifference, first-degree assault with extreme indifference and attempted first-degree murder with extreme indifference, according to Boulder police. Authorities said Perez is not a CU Boulder student. Detectives believe he was the only shooter, although police said other people involved in the confrontation could face additional charges. The allegations against Perez have not been proven in court, and he is presumed innocent unless convicted.
The student who died was identified Monday by CU Boulder as Luca Hanlon, 19, a second-year media production student in the university’s College of Communication, Media, Design and Information. Hanlon died early Sunday after being taken to a hospital following the shooting. The second student, also 19, remained hospitalized Monday. Police had described his condition as critical Sunday and said Monday that it had not worsened. The families of both students asked for privacy.
The shooting was reported at about 11:28 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at a home in the 700 block of Marine Street in Boulder’s University Hill neighborhood, several blocks from campus. Officers arrived in less than two minutes and found the two students wounded inside the home, according to police. Both were taken to a hospital. Police Chief Steve Redfearn said the killing was Boulder’s first homicide of 2026.
Police had been called to the same home earlier in the night because of a noise complaint involving a large Halloween party. Authorities said the event included a live band and drew hundreds of people. Officers cited residents for a nuisance party, and the gathering ended around 10 p.m. Most attendees left, while a smaller group remained inside the house.
According to an arrest affidavit cited by local news organizations, Perez was among a group that later entered the home without an invitation and was told to leave. Witnesses told investigators that members of the group became upset. The affidavit alleges that Perez turned back as the group was leaving and pushed his way inside while several others were stopped at the door. Fights then broke out inside and outside the residence, investigators said.
A resident told police that he was moving Perez toward the front door when Perez allegedly opened fire, striking the two students, according to the affidavit. Perez then ran from the home, the witness said. Police said video from a camera at the residence captured images of Perez and others who had been at the scene. Investigators later released images while asking the public for help identifying people connected to the confrontation.
Police said a sibling of Perez contacted authorities after recognizing him in the circulated images. Redfearn said detectives identified the suspect within 24 hours with help from witnesses and community tips. Boulder officers coordinated with the Thornton Police Department, Westminster Police Department and Adams County Sheriff’s Office before Perez was taken into custody Monday morning. Police had not released his booking photograph because of the continuing investigation.
CU Boulder said Monday afternoon that Hanlon had been identified by the Boulder County Coroner and that university offices were working with campus and Boulder police to support his family and members of the campus community. University officials also thanked investigators and people who provided information that helped lead to the arrest.
The investigation remains active. Boulder police said detectives are still working to identify other people who were involved in the confrontation, although investigators currently believe Perez was the only person who fired a gun. Authorities have not announced charges against anyone else. Perez remained in custody Monday as the criminal case moved forward.
Author note: Last updated November 2, 2026.