The Colorado Springs-area man facing state and federal charges after allegedly setting several people on fire Sunday in Boulder attempted to buy a handgun in Colorado Springs late last year, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

Mohamed Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, attempted to buy the handgun at Scheels All Sports on Nov. 22, 2024, but was denied and never appealed, according to a CBI spokesperson.

The store is located 15 miles from Soliman's most recent address, 2316 Washo Circle, which is in an unincorporated pocket of Cimarron Hills that borders Colorado Springs' east side.

The spokesperson said Soliman's application was processed through the bureau's InstaCheck system then denied. The denial was based on information from the National Instant Criminal Bac

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