An 82-year-old woman has died after a man hurled Molotov cocktails at her during a peaceful demonstration in support of Israeli hostages earlier this month in Boulder, authorities said Monday.
Karen Diamond, one of 29 victims in the attack, died of severe injuries, the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement Monday announcing additional charges against the suspect, Mohamed Soliman.
Soliman now faces two counts of first-degree murder, both connected to Diamond’s death, as well as 12 federal hate crimes and at least 100 state criminal charges in the June 1 attack.
“This horrific attack has now claimed the life of an innocent person who was beloved by her family and friends. Our hearts are with the Diamond family during this incredibly difficult time,” Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in a statement.
“Our office will fight for justice for the victims, their loved ones, and the community.”
Leaders of the Boulder Jewish Community announced in an email Monday that Diamond died June 25 and said she will be deeply missed
“Karen was a cherished member of our community, someone whose warmth and generosity left a lasting impact on all who knew her,” executive director Jonathan Lev and board chair David Paul said.
Diamond was active in the Boulder community and served as a board member and president for the University Women’s Club in Boulder.
In 2019, she was awarded the Margaret Willard Award, which is given annually to a woman in the Boulder area whose contributions enhance women’s quality of life on campus or in the community, is an exceptional role model and brings honor to all women and to the university, according to UWC.
She volunteered at numerous organizations, including Historic Boulder and her synagogue, and made deliveries whenever needed to older and immobile congregants, her biography on UWC’s website said.
When her synagogue was badly damaged from a flood in 2013, Diamond “played a major role” in its reconstruction and refurbishing using her interior design skills, the club said.
She also served on the Board of Hadassah, an International organization of Jewish women, for more than 30 years, according to UWC.
“She is a gracious and caring person whose exemplary involvement in our Club and in university and community endeavors have done so much good for all of us,” the UWC wrote in 2019.
In a statement posted on social media, Gov. Jared Polis said he was devastated to hear of Diamond’s death.“This loss is deeply felt by the Boulder community and our entire state, particularly within our strong Jewish community,” Polis said.
“My heartfelt condolences go out to her friends and family. Karen was taken from us too soon, and we mourn her loss while remembering her life and the impact she had on those who loved her.”
The district attorney’s office said Monday that 13 people were physically injured during the attack in front of the Boulder County Courthouse that many have described as antisemitic. Soliman dressed as a gardener to get close to the protest group called Run for Their Lives and threw Molotov cocktails at demonstrators, setting them on fire.
Court documents say Soliman told investigators he wanted to “kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead.”
The group, which had gathered in downtown Boulder in support of hostages in Gaza, had been walking peacefully each week for nearly two years to raise awareness of the hostages kidnapped during Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
The number of victims in the attack, which ranged in age from 25 to 88, grew after further investigation, the district attorney’s office said.
Authorities say Soliman shouted “Free Palestine!” as he carried out the attack, which he admitted to planning for more than a year, according to court documents.
Soliman also faces 52 counts of attempted first-degree murder, eight counts of first-degree assault, 18 counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of third-degree assault, among other charges.
He could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted of the state and federal crimes he’s charged with committing. On Friday, Soliman pleaded not guilty to federal hate crimes.
Soliman is next scheduled to appear in state court on July 15.