A tragic hostage situation unfolded on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at the Arista Flats apartment complex in Broomfield, Colorado. Police responded to reports of shots being fired inside and outside of a unit at the complex, leading to an hours-long standoff between law enforcement and the suspect, 34-year-old Gregory Miles.
Miles, who has a long history of domestic violence charges dating back to 2009, including stalking, harassment, assault, and protection order violations, took a woman hostage inside their shared apartment unit. Court records show that Miles has pled guilty to or been convicted of various charges across four Colorado counties. His past criminal activities include charges of menacing, assault with a deadly weapon, animal abuse, and kidnapping.
In a statement released by the apartment complex management, they described the incident as a “domestic violence situation” involving shots fired inside and outside the unit, and noted that it ended with the resident being taken into custody after a brief standoff with law enforcement.
As the situation escalated, nearby residents were evacuated, with the Broomfield Police Department placing eight families in hotels overnight, while other families stayed with friends or relatives. On Friday, police confirmed that those evacuated could return home, although parts of the building remained closed for investigation.
The police ultimately breached the unit after negotiating with Miles for over three hours. Both the suspect and the female hostage were transported to a hospital, where the woman succumbed to her injuries from a gunshot wound. It is still unclear whether she was shot by Miles or during the exchange of gunfire with the police. Miles remains in stable condition after being shot multiple times by law enforcement.
The woman’s identity has not yet been released, as the Adams and Broomfield County Coroner’s Office continues their investigation. The nature of the relationship between Miles and the woman remains unspecified.
Residents in the surrounding area described the terrifying events, with one resident sharing, “It was chaotic. We heard shots and didn’t know what was going on. We just grabbed our kids and left as fast as we could.” Other residents of the complex shared similar sentiments, expressing their fear and shock as police worked to resolve the situation.
Miles’ criminal past adds to the severity of the charges he now faces. Since 2009, he has been involved in multiple domestic violence incidents, which resulted in several arrests. His previous convictions include third-degree assault, harassment, and violating protection orders.
The Broomfield Police Department and the Critical Incident Response Team for the 17th Judicial District are currently investigating the shooting and standoff. Meanwhile, residents are left grappling with the aftermath of the violence in their community.