Boulder Grocery Store Shooting: 10 Killed, Including Officer

BOULDER, CO — One person is in custody after a shooter opened fire at a King Soopers grocery store Monday in Boulder, killing 10 people, including a police officer, according to a Boulder police spokesperson.

Officers were called to the store, at 3600 Table Mesa Drive, around 2:40 p.m. after a man with a rifle opened fire, police said.

SWAT vehicles, ambulances, officers, drones, a K9 team and many patrol cars were seen surrounding the store. Several medical helicopters also arrived. Hundreds of officers were called in from law enforcement agencies in surrounding counties to assist Boulder police and Boulder County deputies.

For several hours, the Boulder Police Department could be heard on a megaphone telling a suspect to surrender.

Many of the store's front windows appeared to be broken, and walls were cracked open.

Officers took a man out of the store in handcuffs around 3:30 p.m., according to video from the scene. He was only wearing his boxers, and his leg was covered in blood.

An emergency notification was issued around 5 p.m. to Boulder residents who live near 17th and Grove Streets, asking them to shelter in place while officers looked for someone who may be armed and dangerous, police said. Investigators determined that the incident was not related to the shooting at King Soopers, and the shelter-in-place was lifted around 6:45 p.m.

Officers led more than 10 customers out of the store late Monday afternoon.

"I was picking out produce when I heard the first shots," a King Soopers customer said in a reply to a Boulder police tweet. "I thought it was a shelf falling over. Then many many more shots. I escaped through the meat department loading dock."

Other customers described hiding in closets or bathrooms, according to their reports on social media.

The officer who was shot to death has been identified as Eric Talley, Boulder police said.

"His life was cut much too short," said Michael Dougherty, Boulder County District Attorney.

A "painstaking investigation" is underway, the DA said.

Kim Cordova, president of UFCW Local 7, which represents Colorado grocery store workers, said she heard reports that King Soopers employees helped customers find safety during the shooting and directed them to an exit at the back of the store.

"Today our community experienced a senseless act of violence that caused an unnecessary loss of life in Boulder’s vibrant community," Cordova said in a statement.

"It is with deep sadness we mourn the victims and their families who have lost loved ones today, including the heroic Boulder police officer who died in the line of duty. We are forever grateful to the grocery workers, customers, and the first responders who acted swiftly to prevent even greater loss of life–protecting our members and all those in danger inside the store," her statement read, in part.

Gov. Jared Polis also issued a statement:

“Today, ten lives were tragically lost, including Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley. Officer Talley served more than ten years with the Boulder Police Department and tragically lost his life at the age of 51 while working to save the lives of others," his statement read.

"And tonight, the families of these victims, our fellow Coloradans, my neighbors, are hearing the devastating news that their loved one who simply woke up and went to work this morning, or who ran out to pick up eggs, won’t be coming home. Our community anxiously awaits more information on the victims, hoping it’s not our friends, coworkers and neighbors but knowing in our tight knit community it will be, and even if we don’t personally know them, we all mourn their senseless killing and our sense of safety in our local grocery store.

"This year we have all been surrounded by loss of life, illness and isolation, and the deep grief that has accompanied the loss of life as we knew it. As spring sprung this weekend, and vaccines continue to get into arms, lightness creeped back in only for the darkness to descend on us again today. Today we saw the face of evil. I am grieving with my community and all Coloradans.”

President Joe Biden was also briefed Monday evening about the shooting and he's monitoring the situation, his administration said.

Anyone who witnessed the shooting is asked to call Boulder police at 303-441-3333.

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