University and city officials in Boulder expressed concern Monday about a recent outbreak of violence, including assaults that appear to be motivated by sexual orientation and race.
Two young men, both University of Colorado students, were arrested early Sunday for allegedly assaulting a 23-year-old man after making derogatory comments about his sexuality, police said. The victim had his arm around a male friend before the attack.
Early Saturday, a 19-year-old man was beaten and his 18-year-old friend was injured in an assault that Boulder police believe was race-based. The attackers remained at large Monday.
The latest incidents follow a Feb. 21 attack on a 21-year-old woman in the predawn hours after she met two men on the Pearl Street Mall.
The woman told police the men attacked her after she told them she is a lesbian. No suspects have been arrested.
This past weekend there were at least six assaults in Boulder, according to police, including a brawl that left one victim lying in the street injured. Another assault took place at a taxi stand and started over who was next in line for a cab.
“In some of these, there are indications that alcohol is playing a role,” Boulder police spokeswoman Julie Brooks said.
The recent violence motivated Boulder Mayor Mark Ruzzin and City Manager Frank Bruno to release a statement Monday.
“An attack on a community member for any reason, including sexual orientation, race or any other bias, threatens the feeling of safety and security within Boulder’s diverse populations and will not be tolerated,” the joint statement said. “These shameful acts do not represent the values of our city.”
CU students Adam Perez and Eric Schorling, both 21, were arrested on suspicion of assault and “bias-motivated crimes” in Sunday’s incident and have been suspended from the university.
Perez, a senior majoring in molecular, cellular and developmental biology, and Schorling, a junior majoring in anthropology, have been released from custody on $5,000 bonds.
“These types of incidents are senseless and unnecessary,” said CU chancellor G.P. “Bud” Peterson. “They do not represent the character and commitment of the vast majority of our students or the values of our academic community.”
Staff writer Kieran Nicholson can be reached at 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
