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Colorado

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2022 Hate Crime Statistics for Colorado

Please click the image/link below to download a fact sheet with detailed graphics and information on hate crimes reported to the FBI for Colorado in 2022.

Image of the 2022 Colorado Hate Crimes Fact Sheet

Fast Facts on Colorado Hate Crime Incidents*

Bias Motivation Categories by Year
Bias Motivation Category202020212022
Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry184182201
Religion354046
Sexual Orientation496771
Disability544
Gender011
Gender Identity101820
Total:283312343
Types of Crime
Crimes Against Persons25264.8%
Crimes Against Property13233.9%
Crimes Against Society51.2%
Bias Motivation Categories
Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry20158.6%
Religion4613.4%
Sexual Orientation7120.7%
Disability41.2%
Gender10.3%
Gender Identity205.8%

 


*2021 was 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 was sentenced to 55 concurrent life sentences to run consecutive to 190 years in prison after pleading guilty to 74 hate crimes and firearms charges related to the Nov. 19, 2022, mass shooting at Club Q, an LGBTQIA+ establishment in Colorado Springs.

According to the plea agreement, the defendant admitted to murdering five people, injuring 19, and attempting to murder 26 more in a willful, deliberate, malicious, and premediated attack at Club Q. The defendant entered Club Q armed with a loaded, privately manufactured assault weapon and began firing. He continued firing until subdued by patrons of the Club. As part of the plea, the defendant admitted that this attack was in part motivated because of the actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity of the victims.

Sentencinghttps://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-colorado-resident-sentenced-life-prison-federal-hate-crimes-and-firearm-offenses

Information: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/colorado-resident-charged-federal-hate-crimes-and-firearm-offense-related-mass-shooting-club

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

November 12, 2024

Three People Indicted on Charges Related to Hate Crime Hoax 


October 3, 2024

U.S. Department of Justice Awards University of Colorado Nearly $2 Million Grant to Combat Hate Crimes


June 18, 2024

Former Colorado Resident Sentenced to Life in Prison for Federal Hate Crimes and Firearm Offenses Related to Mass Shooting at Club Q


June 18, 2024

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke Delivers Remarks Announcing Former Colorado Resident Sentenced to Life in Prison for Federal Hate Crimes and Firearm Offenses Related to Mass Shooting at Club Q


January 23, 2024

Colorado Man Sentenced for Church Arson in Federal Hate Crime Case


January 16, 2024

Colorado Resident Charged with Federal Hate Crimes and Firearm Offense Related to Mass Shooting at Club Q


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


Grant Awardees

Community-based Approaches to Prevent and Address Hate Crimes

The Asian Roundtable of Colorado | United Against Hate: Building a Comprehensive Response to Hate Crimes | FY 2023

Voces Unidas for Justice | Finding a Healing Way Back from Hate | FY 2022


Services to Support Victims of Hate Crime and Strengthen Communities

Futures Without Violence subawardee: Voices Unidas for Justice | Community IMPACT: Imagining Multidisciplinary Pathways to Assist, Care & Thrive

 


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 November 13, 2024