Boulder officer stabbed by woman who reportedly refused to leave grocery store
DENVER (KDVR) — A 61-year-old woman was arrested in Boulder Wednesday night after she allegedly stabbed a police officer.
The events started shortly after 6:30 p.m. on May 1 after officers responded to Lucky’s Market at 3960 Broadway on a report of a woman trespassing and refusing to leave the grocery store. Bystanders told officers the woman was “acting erratically, speaking nonsensically, and that she had mud on her face.”
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She was identified as Patricia Murphy, 61, of Boulder. Officers said they spoke with Murphy for “several minutes trying to get her to leave the store when she suddenly pulled out a knife and stabbed an officer in the shoulder.”
That officer was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A police spokesperson told FOX31’s Greg Nieto on Wednesday night that the officer was stabbed in the upper torso.
As the stabbed officer backed away, Murphy reportedly began to advance on a second officer, eventually lunging at her with the knife.
The Boulder Police Department provided these body-worn camera still images of a suspect allegedly stabbing an officer on Wednesday night in Lucky’s Market. The Boulder Police Department provided these body-worn camera still images of a suspect allegedly stabbing an officer on Wednesday night in Lucky’s Market.
Additional officers were called to the scene and de-escalation measures were attempted before officers ultimately fired “less-lethal sponge rounds.” That allowed officers to take her safely into custody.
“I’m very thankful that our officer’s injuries were not more serious and also thankful to the team that negotiated with the suspect to get her in custody without any further injuries to anyone,” interim Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said in a release detailing the arrest.
Murphy was taken to a hospital before she was transported to jail. She is currently facing charges of:
Two counts of first-degree assault
Two counts of felony menacing
One count of trespassing
One count of obstruction/resisting arrest
This is an open investigation, and additional charges may be added, Boulder PD said.
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Anyone who witnessed any part of this incident or has information relevant to the investigation should contact Detective Tuck at TuckA@bouldercolorado.gov or 303-441-4322, and reference case 24-04131.
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