released by Longmont Public Safety show that a 20-year-old man shot by Longmont Police in August told the hostage victim that he wanted to die by suicide and the victim asked officers not to shoot him. Dariss Yearby was fatally shot by Longmont Police on August 10, 2026 as he held an 18-year-old female hostage with a bag held against her neck while telling officers he had a gun.
Yearby was charged with attempted murder against the same victim after allegedly strangling her about 15 times in February, 2025. The District Attorney’s Office requested a $100,000 cash/surety bond, but the court granted a $20,000 personal recognizance bond on April 2, 2025. On May 27, 2026, Yearby was arrested for violating a protection order against the victim and the judge imposed a $20,000 cash/surety bond. Yearby bonded out of jail on June 10, 2026.
Yearby told officers he had possession of a gun as he held a bag against the victim’s neck, but the victim told officers he did not have a gun. The hostage informed the officers that Yearby wanted to die from suicide and pleaded with them to not shoot him. An officer asked Yearby what he had in his hand and Yearby responded that he had a gun. Shortly after, one of the officers fired a shot that killed Yearby. No gun was found at the scene of the crime…