DENVER — A man who was released from custody in Boulder County on Nov. 17 faces a murder charge in connection with a homicide that occurred the next day in Denver, court records show.
Brian Murray, 40, faces a first-degree murder charge in connection with the death of William "Stu" Hoebel in the Cheesman Park area on Nov. 18.
DPD officers responded to a home in the 1100-block of North Vine Street around 5:45 p.m. on Nov. 18 and found Hoebel suffering from injuries. He was later pronounced dead. The Denver Medical Examiner's Office said Hoebel died from asphyxiation and blunt force injuries.
Murray was initially arrested on Nov. 16 by the Louisville Police Department (LPD) and was released from custody the following day on a personal recognizance bond.
His initial arrest was related to an incident on Nov. 14. Around 5:30 p.m. that night, Murray contacted Boulder County Communications (BCC) and would not state a reason for his call, LPD said.
When asked the reason for the call he said "you'll find out," LPD said. Murray again called BCC at 6:09 p.m. and gave an alias name while stating that he had served many years in prison and that he wanted cops to shoot him, LPD said.
He reported that he had a gun and would be dead that night either by officer's hands or his own, according to LPD.
Murray was eventually located at the Quality Inn Hotel in Louisville and taken into custody without incident on Nov. 16. He was booked into the Boulder County Jail on the following charges:
- Attempting to influence a public servant
- Obstructing government operations
He was released the next day, and was supposed to appear in court on Nov. 19 but did not show up, court records show.
The District Attorney's Office did not want Murray released, according to information obtained by 9NEWS. The DA's office asked for a higher bond to be set than was granted.
District Attorney Michael Dougherty said, “Brian Murray is an absolute danger to our community and a serious flight risk. Over the past week, the Louisville Police Department has been working incredibly hard to deal with the risks to public safety presented by this man – with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the District Attorney’s Office. As we have argued from the start, this defendant should not be released into the community.”
On Nov. 22, LPD said in a news release they were again looking for Murray who they said should be "considered armed and dangerous." LPD noted that Murray may be in possession of several weapons, and threatened the lives of "specific individuals" and law enforcement officers.
They said he was wanted on two outstanding warrants of failure to appear and possession of a weapon by a previous offender.
Prosecutors said that Monday, Murray contacted LPD by phone and threatened that he would “go out in a blaze of glory.” Murray also threatened to kill one of their officers and other people, according to the district attorney's office.
LPD said Murray was arrested by the FBI on Tuesday without incident on federal and local charges.
The Denver Police Department said Murray was arrested in Los Angeles. DPD officers are on their way to interview Murray, and are working with the Denver District Attorney's office to coordinate his extradition back to Denver.
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