Happy Friday, Longmont! It’s a massive day for Colorado pro sports. The Denver Broncos begin their 2026 campaign in Atlanta as they take on the Falcons in their preseason opener at 5 p.m. And, the Savannah Bananas, a Harlem Globetrotter-like squad of baseball acrobats, return to Denver to put on a show at Coors Field. Oh, and the Rockies are playing the Giants in San Francisco.
Today — new details have been released on Monday’s officer-involved shooting, a look into Longmont’s senior citizen situation, and big expectations for Longmont high school football.
Let’s dive in.
TOP STORY
🌎 “He just wants you to kill him”: New details released after officer-involved shooting in Longmont
A slew of new details have been released, shedding light on Monday afternoon’s hostage situation and deadly officer-involved shooting in Longmont.
After the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office identified Wednesday the 20-year-old suspect who was killed as Dariss Yearby, Longmont Public Safety revealed Thursday exactly what happened prior to his death.
On Monday…
Just before 3 p.m., three Longmont Police officers arrived at a home on Bluebird Drive where Yearby had taken a woman hostage. This followed a 911 report from the hostage’s mother who said her 18-year-old daughter was in the house with a man who previously tried to kill her.
The officers entered the house, traveled upstairs, and found Yearby standing behind the women, holding his left arm around her neck while his right hand — which was concealed by a large brown handbag — pointed toward her neck.
Yearby told officers multiple times he had a gun, though at one point, the woman told officers he didn’t have a gun. “He just wants you to kill him,” she said.
A fourth officer arrived to assist and asked Yearby what he had in his hand. Yearby continued to insist he had a gun. The officer ordered Yearby to drop the gun or the officer would shoot him. This back-and-forth continued for several more seconds while Yearby continued to hold the woman and keep his hand hidden.
The officer fired one shot that hit Yearby, who fell to the ground. The woman ran out of the room, and officers called for medical support and began providing medical aid to Yearby.
Yearby was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
No other shots were fired and no guns were recovered in the room where the shooting happened. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing and the officer who fired his weapon was placed on administrative leave, per policy.
As it turns out, Yearby was already facing criminal charges for attacking the same woman he took hostage on Monday. He was scheduled to go to trial later this year to defend several misdemeanors and felonies, including attempted murder and assault.
Yearby’s background and controversial release:
February, 2025: Police responded to a hospital after a woman reported being strangled multiple times and losing consciousness. She said Yearby assaulted and strangled her roughly 15 times over the course of an hour. Yearby was charged with several misdemeanors and felonies, including assault and attempted murder.
April, 2025: The DA’s Office requested a $100,000 cash/surety bond, but the court sided with the defense and granted a personal recognizance bond, allowing Yearby to go free, without paying any money, as long as he agreed to several conditions, including no contact with the victim.
May, 2026: Yearby violates the protection order by contacting the victim and is arrested again.
June, 2026: Yearby gets out of jail again after the judge imposed only a $20,000 cash/surety bond, rather than the DA-requested $100,000 cash/surety bond.
Yearby’s case was originally set to go to trial on March 6 but faced several delays and was ultimately moved to December 14.
Headlines
3 Big Things
Ronnie Maynes, Longmont’s Senior Services Manager, advocates for local seniors to Longmont City Council
Senior citizens board sounds alarm on plight of Longmont seniors: Several members of the Longmont Senior Citizens Advisory Board advocated for enhanced support of Longmont’s seniors to city council as part of their annual report. Seniors — ages 55 and over — are the city’s largest and fastest-growing population, as it currently makes up 30% of Longmont. In fact, seniors over 80 in Boulder County are expected to increase over 220% between 2022-2050. The board says seniors are facing a variety of challenges, including housing, healthcare, transportation, employment and, perhaps most urgently, food insecurity. In fact, the board says during its food distribution events, all of their food is gone within three hours. All of these issues have led to the senior center seeing 300,000 visits across the last three years, according to the board. The SCAB plans to focus future efforts on outreach, increasing employment, and more effectively surveying the needs of seniors.
Five more pizzerias join Colorado Pizza Festival : The biggest pizza party in Colorado just got bigger. Sexy Pizza, Pizzeria Leopold, Barchetta, Rock N Puck, and PalaNero have all signed on to serve up slices at the festival when it arrives in Longmont on September 5. A grand total of 25 Colorado pizzerias are now confirmed for attendance. Tickets are $20 and on sale now, learn more here.
Lots of rain chances in the next seven days: Longmont hasn’t seen much rain this August, but that could change in the next week. According to the National Weather Service, rain is likely today, Saturday and Sunday with at least a chance in three of the following four days. Longmont is still shy of a ¼ inch of rain this month. Historically, we should’ve already seen over an inch.
Check this out
Silver Creek, Skyline ranked in top 10 of state in preseason football rankings
The lights are turning on.
As high school athletics squads across the state are preparing for the beginning of competition, Colorado Preps released its rankings of the top schools in each sport, and Longmont is well-represented.
On the gridiron…
Silver Creek High’s football team is ranked ninth in 3A while Silver Creek is 10th. Both qualified for the state playoffs last year but each took losses in the first round. Longmont High has much to prove after a forgettable 1-9 season last year. Here are the full rankings:
Palmer Ridge
Pomona
Holy Family
Palisade
Mead
Eagle Valley
Windsor
Pueblo South
Silver Creek
Skyline
Skyline begins its season on the road next Friday when they take on Conifer. Silver Creek and Longmont kick off their seasons against each other August 28.
A different kind of football…
Silver Creek’s boys soccer team is also one of Colorado’s top contenders. Their squad is ranked ninth in the state following a stellar 2025 campaign. The Raptors fell in the semifinals of the state tournament after losing in a 5-4 shootout to Greeley Central.
Events
Happening this weekend
Coffee with Council: Get the chance to interrogate meet with Mayor Susie Hidalgo-Fahring and Mayor Pro Tem Sean McCoy during the next edition of Coffee with Council. The event takes place at the Longmont Public Library on Saturday from 9 - 10 a.m.
Sounds of Summer: The boys of summer may soon be gone, but the Longmont Concert Band is still hanging around. LCB is closing out the summer at Wibby Brewing Sunday at 4 p.m. Grab a beer, bring a friend, and check out some of Longmont’s finest musicians grace the Wibby stage — for free.
Silent Book Club: Support two local businesses at once by joining Composition Shop for this monthly event hosted by Dry Land Distillers. Bring a book, grab a drink and enjoy reading your book silently or converse lightly with your peers. If you need a book, stop by Composition Shop and say you're with the Silent Book Club to receive 10% off your purchase. It takes place Sunday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. It's free, but be sure to RSVP. Can’t get enough books? Composition Shop is hosting events today and tomorrow, as well. One of them is called Blind Date with a Book.
Last Call
Forecasts show rain is likely in Longmont today, particularly after 4 p.m. and throughout the evening. It’ll be a cooler day as well, temperatures should peak at 84 degrees, per the National Weather Service.
Gas prices are staying high in Boulder-Longmont. AAA data shows the average for a gallon of gas in the area is $4.31.
Longmont Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting yesterday to celebrate PB&T Bank’s new downtown Longmont location.
Check out a new cocktail heading to Pelo’s menu.
Union Reservoir will close Sunday until 1 p.m. for a triathlon.
After updating its outdoor furniture, The Pumphouse Brewery is giving away its old patio tables and chairs for free. Head to the back alley on the east side of the building to pick up what you want before they’re gone.
Dinosaurs return to movie theaters today as The End of Oak Street stomps into theaters. Check Regal Village at the Peaks showtimes here.
Until Monday,
The Longmont Brief
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