What began as a peaceful Sunday protest on Boulder’s Pearl Street strip turned to terror in an instant.

"From the restaurant that I work at, you could hear people screaming — just this whole havoc of what was going on," said Anna Krisztina, an Erie native and General McLane graduate.

Anna was working just a few doors down at Postino’s, a popular restaurant on the street, when violence erupted. Police say 45-year-old Mohamed Soliman threw a Molotov cocktail into the crowd at people, during a pro-Israel demonstration. The attack sent the area into chaos — and left a permanent mark on those nearby.

"No, I definitely knew it was something horrible," Anna said when asked if she immediately understood the severity. "We could see the smoke from the restaurant."

She and her coworkers were quickly evacuated, but what they witnessed will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

"You could hear people screaming, calling out for help… and yeah, just the smoke from the fire. Victims were quite literally set on fire from these Molotovs."

What had been a normal Sunday morning — with Pearl Street bustling with families and children — instantly transformed into a nightmare.

"It just felt so surreal, because it was honestly just another average day of me going into work," Anna said. "That part of Boulder is known to be very popular among children and families. It’s just such a huge shock."

The images and sounds from that day are now etched into her memory.

"It’s unforgettable," she said quietly. "Very jarring… and my heart just goes out to all the victims."