Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa

Mass Murderer

Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa and the 2021 Boulder King Soopers Massacre

Background

Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa was the perpetrator of the mass shooting at a King Soopers supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, on March 22, 2021. Alissa, who was 21 years old at the time, drove from his family's home in Arvada to Boulder while armed with a Ruger AR-556 semiautomatic pistol resembling an AR-15 rifle. He also carried a separate 9mm handgun, although investigators determined that the Ruger was the weapon used during the massacre. Alissa had purchased the Ruger weapon on March 16, 2021, six days before the attack. He also possessed large-capacity ammunition magazines. Evidence later presented in court showed that he had searched online for possible public locations in Boulder, including restaurants, bars and large retail stores. Prosecutors said that he ultimately drove into Boulder and selected the first major supermarket he encountered. Before the shooting, members of Alissa's family had observed increasingly disturbed and paranoid behavior. He believed that people were watching or following him and had become socially isolated. He had not received formal psychiatric treatment before the massacre. Alissa had previously pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault after attacking a classmate at Arvada West High School in 2017. That case resulted in probation and community service.

The King Soopers Shooting

At approximately 2:30 p.m. on March 22, 2021, Alissa entered the parking lot of the King Soopers supermarket at 3600 Table Mesa Drive in Boulder. The store was busy with employees, customers and outside service workers. More than 100 people were believed to have been inside the building, with additional people in the surrounding parking lot. Alissa began shooting almost immediately after leaving his vehicle. One of the first people killed was 23-year-old repair technician Neven Stanisic, who had completed work on a coffee machine and was sitting inside his service van. Alissa continued across the parking lot, firing at people as they attempted to escape or find cover. He killed three victims outside before entering the supermarket through an eastern entrance. Inside the store, the sound of gunfire caused customers and employees to run toward exits, hide in storage areas or shelter behind counters and merchandise. Some escaped through rear doors, while others remained concealed for nearly an hour. Alissa moved through the aisles and continued firing his Ruger AR-556. Seven victims were killed inside the supermarket. Employees helped one another reach safety, and several people used emergency exits to flee the building. Others hid in offices, closets and stockrooms. A woman who escaped suffered a fractured back, but no additional person was fatally wounded beyond the ten victims.

Police Response and Officer Eric Talley

Boulder police began receiving emergency calls reporting an active shooter at approximately 2:33 p.m. Officer Eric Talley, a 51-year-old veteran of the Boulder Police Department, was among the first officers to enter the supermarket. Talley had served with the department since 2010 and was the father of seven children. Talley and other officers moved toward the gunfire in an attempt to locate and stop the attacker. Alissa shot and killed Talley inside the store. Talley was the final person murdered during the attack. His death was the first line-of-duty killing of a Boulder police officer since 1994. Additional police officers surrounded the building while tactical teams entered and searched for the gunman. Alissa exchanged gunfire with responding officers. Boulder Police Officer Richard Steidell struck Alissa in the right thigh, disabling him. Alissa eventually removed much of his clothing, placed his weapons down and surrendered. Officers arrested him outside the supermarket at approximately 3:28 p.m. Alissa was transported to Boulder Community Health Foothills Hospital for treatment of his gunshot wound. He was later transferred to the Boulder County Jail. Investigators recovered the Ruger AR-556, the unused 9mm handgun, ammunition and multiple large-capacity magazines. ...

Confirmed Victims: (10)

Eric Talley 51 yr old Male

2021 Boulder shooting