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Colorado

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2021 Hate Crime Statistics for Colorado

Colorado 2021 Hate Crimes Factsheet: For more information about hate crimes in Colorado during 2021, please download this factsheet. There you will find charts and statistics showing the types of hate crimes and bias motivations for hate crimes reported in Colorado.

Fast Facts on Colorado Hate Crime Incidents*

Bias Motivation Categories by Year

Bias Motivation Category 2019 2020 2021
Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry 117 184 182
Religion 36 35 40
Sexual Orientation 47 49 67
Disability 7 5 4
Gender 0 0 1
Gender Identity 5 10 18
Total: 212 283 312

Types of Crime

Crimes Against Persons 259 69.1%
Crimes Against Property 114 30.4%
Crimes Against Society 2 0.5%

Bias Motivation Categories

Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry 182 58.3%
Religion 40 12.8%
Sexual Orientation 67 21.5%
Disability 4 1.3%
Gender 1 0.3%
Gender Identity 18 5.8%

*This is the first year that the annual hate crimes statistics were reported entirely through the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS).  As a result of the shift to NIBRS-only data collection, law enforcement agency participation in submitting all crime statistics, including hate crimes, fell significantly from 2020 to 2021.  


Case Examples

A Colorado man pleaded guilty to a hate crime charge in connection with a church fire he set in Loveland, Colorado. The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison.

According to the evidence, the defendant set the church on fire during the evening of January 19, 2023, by throwing two Molotov cocktails at the church – one at the front door and the other at the basement. The defendant admitted that he was motivated by the religious nature of the church and intended to destroy the church.

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/colorado-man-pleads-guilty-federal-hate-crime-church-arson

A Colorado man pled guilty to a federal hate crime involving an attempt to kill after stabbing a Black man.

On December 21, 2019, the defendant walked into a fast food restaurant where the victim was waiting to meet with the restaurant manager about a pending job application. The defendant approached the man from behind and, without warning, stabbed him twice in the neck. The victim was able to prevent the defendant from stabbing him again and eventually break free from his grip. The defendant later admitted that he was trying to kill the man because he was Black.

He will be sentenced on September 9, 2021 and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/colorado-man-pleads-guilty-federal-hate-crime-after-unprovoked-stabbing-black-man

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/colorado-man-charged-hate-crime-after-unprovoked-stabbing-Black-man

A Colorado man, who self-identifies as a neo-Nazi and white supremacist, was sentenced to over 19 years in federal prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for plotting to blow up the Temple Emanuel Synagogue in Pueblo, Colorado.

In conversations with undercover FBI agents, the defendant repeatedly expressed his hatred of Jewish people and said that he wanted the bombing of the synagogue to send a message to Jewish people that they must leave his town “otherwise people will die.” The defendant’s conduct meets the federal definition of domestic terrorism.

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/southern-colorado-man-sentenced-more-19-years-plotting-blow-synagogue

News

May 4, 2023

Colorado Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime for Church Arson


November 21, 2022

FBI Statement on Colorado Springs Club Shooting


November 21, 2022

Statement on Shooting at Club Q In Colorado Springs


May 18, 2022

U.S. Attorney for District of Colorado Joins African American Community Leaders at Vigil for Mass Shooting Victims


September 9, 2021

Colorado Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison for Unprovoked Stabbing of Black Man


July 28, 2021

FBI Denver Division Announces JEWISHcolorado as FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award Recipient for 2020


June 17, 2021

Colorado Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime After Unprovoked Stabbing of Black Man


February 26, 2021

Southern Colorado Man Sentenced to More Than 19 Years for Plotting to Blow Up Synagogue


October 15, 2020

Southern Colorado Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime and Explosives Charges for Plotting to Blow Up Synagogue


September 17, 2020

Colorado Man Charged with Hate Crime After Unprovoked Stabbing of Black Man


November 22, 2019

Southern Colorado Man Indicted on Federal Hate Crime and Explosives Charges for Plotting to Blow Up Synagogue


November 4, 2019

Southern Colorado Man Charged with Federal Hate Crime for Plotting to Blow Up Synagogue


October 9, 2019

U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer Announces Progress In Making Our Communities Safer Through Project Safe Neighborhoods


 

DOJ Offices

FBI Field Office

FBI

 

Denver
8000 East 36th Avenue
Denver, CO 80238

T: 303.629.7171
denver.fbi.gov


U.S. Attorney's Office

DOJ

 

Colorado (Denver)
www.justice.gov/usao-co/contact-us


CRS Regional Office

CRS

 

 

Rocky Mountain Regional Office
1244 Speer Boulevard
Suite 650
Denver, CO 80204

T: 303.844.2973
F: 303.844.2907
askcrs@usdoj.gov

Updated August 11, 2023