March 2021 My Fellow Coloradans, My heart aches today. Because this is our home, this is our community, this is our State. The tragic shooting that occurred yesterday afternoon inside the King Soopers grocery store at Table Mesa Shopping Center in Boulder took the lives of 10 Coloradans, including Boulder police officer Eric Talley who was killed in the line of duty. Yesterday, 10 families in our state woke up to a snowy Colorado Monday and just like any another Monday, maybe they got up and made coffee before checking their social media feed. Some might have kissed their kids before putting on their winter coat and heading out the door. Maybe they excitedly made last minute spring break plans with their family and friends. But little did they know, that in just a few short hours, everything would change. That the goodbye that morning, or that quick run to the store for milk or eggs, would be their last action on Earth. Because of a heinous act of evil, their lives would be claimed by violence. I myself, call Boulder home. Over the course of the last 24 hours, the families of these victims, our fellow Coloradans - my neighbors - have learned the shocking, devastating news. All the while each of us hoped it wasn’t our own friends, coworkers, or loved ones. The names of the deceased are as follows: Denny Stong, 20 Neven Stanisic, 23 Rikki Olds, 25 Tralona Bartkowiak, 49 Suzanne Fountain, 59 Teri Leiker, 51 Eric Talley, 51 Kevin Mahoney, 61 Lynn Murray, 62 Jody Waters, 65 We need space to mourn, space to be angry, space to help those left behind, space to ask “why?”, space to support those who made it out of the grocery store with their lives but with lifelong scars we cannot see, space to celebrate the lives of those we lost, and the fortitude to carry on. These traumatic situations take a toll on all of us and support is critical. You can find helpful resources below: Colorado Crisis Services hotline: 1-844-493-8255 National Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 If you are a parent, here is a link to helpful resources on how to discuss with your children. Colorado Healing Fund, a nonprofit that gives people a secure way to donate to the victims of mass casualty crimes in Colorado, recently activated to collect funds specifically for the Boulder shooting victims and their families. You can donate online at coloradohealingfund.org. If you would like to make a monetary donation to fallen Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley or for the civilian victims of yesterday's shooting, please visit boulderoem.com/donations/ for information. Community Foundation Boulder County has announced a fund to support the needs of victims and families of the larger boulder community after yesterday’s shooting. Visit commfound.givecorps.com to learn more. The unfairness of it all will be difficult to process over the coming weeks. Flags have barely been raised back to full-staff after the tragic shooting in Atlanta that claimed eight lives. Now tragedy has hit once again here at home. I have ordered flags flown at half-staff for ten days, to commemorate the ten lives lost yesterday. While we continue to closely monitor the situation, it remains critical that we practice patience and allow local law enforcement and first responders to do their jobs to ensure justice is served swiftly. I wish I could promise you that this pain will quickly heal. But for the families and friends of the victims, and for the community, right now it’s hard to see the light through the darkness. Sincerely, Governor Jared Polis ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Visit Website Office of Governor Jared Polis | 136 State Capitol , Denver, CO 80203 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Customer Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]