BOULDER (CN) — A man charged with killing 10 people at a Boulder grocery store in 2021 pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity on Tuesday.
On March 22, 2021, prosecutors say Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, of Arvada, opened fire at the King Soopers in the Table Mesa neighborhood of Boulder with a Ruger AR-556 assault-style weapon and a semiautomatic handgun. Although no connections have been made between the assailant and his victims, investigators say Alissa chose targets and hunted them through the store.
Officers arrived within minutes. After being shot in the leg by an officer, Alissa stripped off his clothes, dropped his weapons, turned himself in and asked to speak to his mother.
The subsequent law enforcement investigation uncovered no motive but found evidence that Alissa had planned the shooting months in advance. Prior to the attack Alissa made notes on his phone, gathered weapons and went to a shooting range.
Alissa, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, was first found to be mentally incompetent to stand trial in December 2021; then, after being forcibly medicated by court order at the state mental hospital, Alissa was found mentally competent in August.
Mental competency refers to a defendant’s ability to aid in his own defense, whereas the issue of insanity delves into Alissa’s mental state during the shooting and intent to commit the crime.
“From talking to victims’ families, this was a positive step moving forward to prosecute the King Soopers shooting suspect,” said 20th Judicial District Attorney Michael Dougherty in a press conference. “Let’s raise up all of the victims and recognize the pain and trauma all of them have suffered.”
Alissa faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and more than 100 charges that include attempted murder of civilians and law enforcement, as well as violating the state's large capacity magazine ban.
On Tuesday Alissa, 24, wore a curly beard and an orange and white striped jumpsuit. Except for the occasional sound of his chains jingling as he shrugged his shoulders, he was silent throughout the hearing.
Twentieth Judicial District Chief Judge Ingrid Bakke set Alissa’s bond at $100 million, one-fifth of the prosecutors’ request. Since Colorado lawmakers repealed the death penalty in 2020, judges are required to set bond for all criminal defendants held in custody.
Bakke, who was appointed by Colorado's last Republican governor, Bill Ritter, said she hoped the amount would incentivize anyone who covered his bond to ensure he follow court orders and turns up for trial.
The victims, who were between 20 to 65 years old, included three King Soopers employees, several shoppers and a police officer.
Rikki Olds was 25 years old and working at the grocery store when she was shot and killed. Her uncle, Robert Olds, spoke outside the courthouse about his hope that the trial will help him understand why this happened and why it happened to his niece.
“He wanted to commit mass murder and die a suicide by cop,” Olds said. “Part of me wishes that was fulfilled, the other half of me hopes the trial will tell us why — why that King Soopers, why was my niece working that day, why did she decide to run when she did.”
Even if the bond is out of reach for Alissa, no amount would have been enough, Olds said.
“What price do you place on your loved one’s death?” he said.
The other victims include Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley, 51; Denny Stong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; and Jody Waters, 65.
More than two dozen community members filled out the wood and carpet-furnished courtroom at the Boulder County Combined Courthouse, 30 minutes north of Denver.
The court tentatively scheduled a three-week trial beginning in August.
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