The man accused of carrying out a mass shooting at a Colorado grocery store in 2021 that killed 10 people, including a police officer, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, who is charged with 10 counts of murder, 15 counts of attempted murder and other offenses, appeared in court Tuesday. His attorneys entered the insanity plea on his behalf.
Alissa, now 24, would likely avoid prison and instead be committed indefinitely to the state mental hospital if the plea is successful. Before the case was allowed to proceed to trial, Alissa was twice ruled incompetent because he has schizophrenia. He was recently forcibly medicated and declared competent to stand trial and understand the charges brought against him.
Neither Alissa’s attorneys nor anyone else involved in the trial dispute he was the shooter on March 22, 2021 at the crowded King Soopers supermarket in Boulder. According to witnesses and testimony, Alissa allegedly began firing an AR-556 pistol as soon as he exited his car and killed most of his victims in a little more than a minute.
Boulder police officer Eric Talley and nine shoppers and workers inside and outside of the store were killed in the rampage. Alissa was shot inside the store and arrested.
No motive has been determined, but a forensic psychologist testified in September that Alissa wanted to commit suicide by cop. He remains in custody on $100 million bond and another competency hearing has been scheduled for January.
Earlier this year, relatives of the massacre’s victims filed a lawsuit against Sturm, Ruger & Co. over its alleged “reckless” and “immoral” marketing techniques that have encouraged lone gunmen and emphasized the pistol’s ability to kill. Investigators determined that Alissa purchased the gun legally six days before the shooting.
With News Wire Services
https://www.nydailynews.com/2023/11/14/colorado-grocery-store-shooter-pleads-insanity-king-soopers/