The shooting occurred at a King Soopers grocery store, where many were either shopping or receiving COVID-19 vaccines.
What We Know:
- On Monday, March 22, 2021, a gunman opened fire in Boulder, Colorado. Ten people, including police officer Eric Talley, were shot and killed. Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold confirmed the victims’ ages range from 20 to 65. The other victims were identified as Denny Strong, Neven Stanisic, Rikki Olds, Tralona Bartkowiak, Suzanne Fountain, Teri Leiker, Kevin Mahoney, Lynn Murray, and Jody Waters.
- Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, a 21-year-old male, began shooting at 2:40 p.m. Police were called and started engaging with the suspect. During this time, Alissa endured “a through-and-through” gunshot wound and was arrested at 3:28 p.m. He is currently being treated at a hospital and will then be transferred to the Boulder County Jail. FBI Special Agent Michael Schneider said it is too early the motive behind this shooting.
- Alissa has been charged with 10 counts of murder. Boulder officials and political figures are promising they will ensure nothing like this occurs again. Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said he would make sure Alissa is held accountable for his actions. The Governor of Colorado, Jared Polis, stated that he was grieving with the community. President Joe Biden responded to the shooting by asking lawmakers to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. He has also asked that flags be flown half-staff at the White House.
- There have been multiple infamous shootings in Colorado in recent years. In 1999, two teens entered Columbine High School and killed 13 people and wounded 20 before killing themselves. In 2012, James Holmes opened fire at a movie theater during a midnight viewing of “The Dark Knight Rises” at the Century Aurora 16 Multiplex Theater in Aurora, Colorado. He killed 12 and injured 70.
According to CNN, the Boulder shooting is the seventh shooting to occur this past week. It also comes six days after an Atlanta shooting that killed eight people across three different spas.
