BOULDER, Colo. – A suspect is in custody after he reportedly fired "numerous shots" inside Boulder's Millennium Harvest House hotel Monday morning, according to the Boulder Police Department.
Just before 9:30 a.m., a University of Colorado Boulder police officer was driving on 28th Street when he heard gunshots near 28th and Arapahoe. Additional officers responded to the scene after receiving more calls reporting a possible active shooting in the area, a news release from the police department states.
Both CU Boulder police and CU Boulder sent emergency alerts to residents in the area, warning them to avoid the area. That alert stated a suspect was at-large and that emergency personnel was responding. It advised students and residents to “stay away.”
CU EMERGENCY ALERT: Shots fired at 1345 28th St. Millennium Hotel. Suspect at large. Emergency personnel responding. Stay away.
— CU Boulder Alerts (@cuboulderalerts) February 20, 2023
Boulder police ordered a shelter-in-place for the areas of 28th to Taft and Arapahoe to Folsom and residents were told to stay inside their homes while police canvassed the area.
A SWAT team was activated and a coordinated tactical response with officers from other agencies was initiated to enter the hotel, a spokesperson said.
Officers identified the suspect’s room and as they approached, the suspect ran out and down a flight of stairs. He then exited a back door and began running toward Folsom Street before officers took him into custody at around 10:30 a.m., the release states.
Two handguns were recovered at the hotel and further investigation revealed the suspect, who was registered as a guest at the hotel, fired "numerous shots" in the area of the hotel, striking at least one unoccupied vehicle in the parking lot, according to police.
He was identified as 45-year-old Antonio Orlando Lucero by police later Monday. Police have not said if the suspect was from outside the Denver metro area.
"We can confirm that shots were fired inside the Millennium Hotel but we have no reports of fatalities or injuries at this time," police tweeted as the investigation unfolded. "Please continue to avoid this area."
Though close to campus, classes were not cancelled at CU Boulder following the shooting. The shelter-in-place was lifted at around noon.
Boulder police is asking anyone who may have witnessed anything or who may have information about the shooting, to please contact Detective Burke at (303) 441-4483 and reference case 23-01694.
Lucero, who was taken by ambulance to a hospital to be checked out before being taken to jail, was booked on multiple charges, including one count of possession with intent to distribute narcotics; one count of possession of a weapon by a previous offender; one count of criminal mischief; one count of resisting arrest; and one count of obstruction of justice. A special offender sentencing enhancer for possession with intent while in possession of a firearm was also added to the list of charges by police.
