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Victim Killed In Boulder Shooting On The Hill Identified

Boulder Murder
(credit: CBS)

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4/AP) -- A 20-year-old college student is dead in Boulder after being shot in the chest an apparent attempted robbery.

"I was literally walking from the basement upstairs 30 seconds before that and didn't see people before that. Then right as I get up to my room, I hear fireworks, what I thought were the fireworks," said University of Colorado student Kevin Ludolph.

Police say the shooting happened at about 2 a.m. Friday on University Hill near the University of Colorado. The victim, Todd Walker, attended the University of New Hampshire.

todd-walker
Todd Walker (credit: unhwildcats.com)

Walker graduated from Battle Mountain High School in Edwards. The school library will be open at 4 p.m. on Saturday so people can gather and mourn Walker's death.

Authorities said Walker and a 21-year-old female friend were walking home after going to parties in the area when they were approached by a man wearing a black bandanna over his face near 10th and Pennsylvania.

Boulder Suspect
A sketch of the suspect, released by Boulder police. (credit: Boulder Police)

Police said there was a verbal and physical confrontation and the woman was able to pull the bandanna off. Then, police said, the suspect pulled out a gun.

"The suspect pulled out a gun, fired one shot into the air, fired a second shot into the victim. He fired that shot into the victim's chest," said Boulder Police spokeswoman Kim Kobel.

A resident of the area told CBS4 they heard the victim's friend telling police that he had stood in front of her to protect her from being shot.

"She was talking to the cops, that, if it wasn't for him jumping in front of her that she would've got shot," said CU student Adam Sudman.

"He wasn't really moving and the lady, the girl, was right next to him and she was definitely in a state of panic, she was screaming," said CU student Alex Tornocz.

Police are searching for the suspect, described as a clean-shaven, white male with blondish-brown hair. He was said to be 5-foot-10 to 6 feet tall with a medium build.

Officials aren't sure if the gunman attended one or more of the parties the victim also was at. One of the parties was attended by about 500 people. Police released a sketch of the suspect and hope anyone with information about him will call the Boulder Police Department.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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