Weapon in King Soopers shooting bought in Arvada, reason Boulder targeted still unclear

Mitchell Byars, Daily Camera, Boulder, Colo.
·4 min read

Mar. 26—Investigators have been able to determine a man accused of killing 10 people in a mass shooting at a King Soopers on Monday bought the weapon in Arvada, but police are still unsure why he then reportedly used that weapon at a grocery store in south Boulder.

The suspect, identified as Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder after deliberation and one count of attempted murder.

According to an affidavit, Alissa was found with two weapons at the scene of the shooting, including a Ruger AR-556 that records show he had purchased on March 16.

Some of the discussion in the days after the shooting revolved around whether Boulder's recently overturned assault weapons ban played any part in the timing of Alissa obtaining a gun.

But Boulder police Chief Maris Herold on Friday said that the AR-556 was bought by Alissa in Arvada, and not in Boulder, and that he went through a proper background check.

The AR-556 is legally classified as a pistol, but would have fallen under Boulder's assault weapon ban had Alissa tried to buy it in Boulder before the ban was overturned.

At this time police still do not have a motive nor any clues as to why Alissa, an Arvada resident, would drive to Boulder to open fire on a grocery store.

"We too want to know why," Herold said. "Why that King Soopers? Why Boulder? Why Monday? And unfortunately at this time we still don't have those answers."

The Denver Post has reported that Eagles Nest Armory in Arvada said it was the store that sold the weapon.

"We are absolutely shocked by what happened and our hearts are broken for the victims and families that are left behind," the shop's owner John Eagleton said in a statement sent to The Denver Post on Thursday night. "Ensuring every sale that occurs at our shop is lawful, has always been and will always remain, the highest priority for our business."

According to court records, Alissa did not have any prior felony convictions. He does have a misdemeanor assault conviction.

Alissa also had a 9 millimeter handgun, but Herold said police do not believe at this time he fired it at the store.

According to an arrest affidavit, police were called to the King Soopers at 3600 Table Mesa at 2:40 p.m. Monday for a report of an armed man who had shot a person in a vehicle in the store's parking lot and was now inside the store.

Eric Talley, a Boulder police officer, was the first to arrive on scene and was shot and killed. According to the affidavit, Officer Richard Steidell was the next to respond and exchanged fire with the suspect, later identified as Alissa.

Other police arrived, and Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty said they rushed into the building and likely saved lives with their actions.

Boulder police said that Talley led a contact team into the building within 30 seconds of arriving at the scene.

"But for the actions of the officers and quick thinking by those inside the store, this would have been much, much worse," Dougherty said.

Dougherty said that Alissa would be facing additional attempted murder counts for the Boulder and University of Colorado Boulder police officers who entered the building and faced "a very significant amount of gunfire."

Alissa later surrendered to police, and did have a bullet wound to his leg. One Boulder police officer is on paid leave pending an investigation into the shooting, which is standard procedure in police use of force cases.

Dougherty said investigators are working to determine exactly how many shots were fired. Herold said she did a walk through of the "vast" crime scene, and thanked the other agencies assisting with the investigation.

"It would take weeks for the Boulder Police Department to process a scene like this," Herold said.

In addition to Talley, Denny Stong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49;Teri Leiker, 51;Suzanne Fountain, 59; Kevin Mahoney, 61;Lynn Murray, 62; and Jody Waters, 65, were killed in the shooting.

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