Boulder shooter Ahmad Alissa will face more attempted murder charges for shootout with cops - as it emerges he bought the AR-15 style gun used in the attack legally after passing background check
Boulder grocery store shooting suspect Ahmad Alissa is expected to face more first-degree attempted murder charges over the shootout with the cops who responded to the scene of the deadly massacre.
Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said Friday that Alissa, 21, will be slapped with the additional charges in the next couple of weeks after officers were faced with a 'very significant amount of gunfire' when they entered the King Soopers store Monday.
This comes as it emerged the suspect had legally purchased the AR-15 style gun used in the attack after passing a state background check, with law enforcement admitting they are still at a loss to determining a motive for the mass shooting.
Alissa is accused of opening fire at the King Soopers store around 3pm Monday, killing 10 including a cop, store workers, customers and people getting their COVID-19 vaccine.
He currently faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
Boulder grocery store shooting suspect Ahmad Alissa is expected to face more first-degree attempted murder charges over the shootout with the cops who responded to the scene of the deadly massacre. Alissa in court Thursday
Dougherty confirmed the additional charges in a press briefing on the steps of the Boulder Police Department Friday.
'The defendant is currently charged with 10 counts of murder in the first degree, he is charged with one count of attempted murder in the first degree,' he said.
'Additional charges of attempted murder in the first degree will be filed in the very near future.'
The DA recounted how officers from both the Boulder Police Department and the University of Colorado Boulder Police Department responded 'very very quickly' to the reports of shots being fired in the store.
He said their quick response had saved the lives of other people inside the store as the cops entered the store coming face to face with the suspect's gunfire.
'Their actions saved other civilians from being killed,' he said.
'They charged into the store and immediately faced a very significant amount of gunfire from the shooter, who at first they were unable to locate.
'They put their lives at risk and that will be reflected in the additional attempted murder charges that will be filed to the district attorney's office in the next couple of weeks.'
Dougherty did not reveal how many counts of attempted murder would be added to Alissa's list of charges.
He said investigators have an idea of how many shots the suspect fired at the officers in the gun battle but would not reveal it yet.
The first cop on the scene - 51-year-old Officer Eric Talley - was shot dead in the attack.
Police Chief Maris Herold said investigators are yet to determine a motive for the mass shooting or why the King Soopers store was targeted, but confirmed that Alissa had legally bought the gun used in the attack at a local gun store.
Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said Friday that Alissa, 21, will be slapped with the additional charges in the next couple of weeks
The new charges come after officers were faced with a 'very significant amount of gunfire' when they entered the King Soopers store Monday, the DA said. Alissa is seen being led away by officers
He had removed all clothing except shorts before being taken into custody
Alissa also had a second firearm with him which police believe he didn't use in the attack.
'The firearm used by the suspect in King Soopers on March 22nd is a semi-automatic Ruger AR-556 pistol,' Herold said in the briefing.
'It was legally purchased in a gun store in Arvada, Colorado. The suspect was also in possession of a 9 mm handgun but at this time we do not believe that gun was used in this incident.'
Authorities previously revealed Alissa bought a Ruger AR-556 pistol, which resembles an AR-15 rifle with a slightly shorter stock, on March 16 - just six days before it was used in the massacre.
John Mark Eagleton, owner of the Eagles Nest Armory store in Arvada where it was purchased, said the suspect passed a background check conducted by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation before buying the gun.
Eagleton said his store was cooperating with authorities as they investigate.
'We are absolutely shocked by what happened and our hearts are broken for the victims and families that are left behind,' Eagleton said in the statement.
'Ensuring every sale that occurs at our shop is lawful, has always been and will always remain the highest priority for our business.'
Police Chief Maris Herold said investigators are yet to determine a motive for the mass shooting or why the King Soopers store was targeted, but confirmed that Alissa had legally bought the gun used in the attack at a local gun store
Alissa was convicted in 2018 of misdemeanor assault after he knocked a fellow high school student to the floor, climbed on top of him and punched him in the head several times, according to police documents.
He was sentenced to probation and community service.
Colorado has a universal background check law covering almost all gun sales, but misdemeanor convictions generally do not prevent people from purchasing weapons.
If Alissa had been convicted of a felony, however, his gun purchase would have been prohibited under federal law.
Herold said investigators are still working to determine the motive for the shooting and are carrying out a 'deep-dive' into Alissa's background.
'I want the community to know in the past five days, 26 law enforcement agencies have been working round the clock to determine a timeline of events leading up to Monday's mass casualty shooting that occurred at the King Soopers,' Herold said.
'But like the rest of the community, we too want to know why - why that King Soopers? Why Boulder? Why Monday?
'Unfortunately, at this time, we still don't have those answers.'
Alissa was transferred Wednesday from Boulder County Jail to a correctional facility outside the county because of 'threats to his safety' made by other inmates.
Alissa, 21, was transferred from a Boulder County Jail to a correctional facility outside the county because of 'threats to his safety' made by other inmates
He faces ten counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, but additional charges are expected to be filed in the next few weeks
According to CNN, the suspect was never in direct contact with the inmates who made the threats and was not harmed. Other inmates are said to have asked officers about him and made threats, said Jeff Goetz, Division Chief of the Boulder County Jail.
Alissa appeared in court on Thursday morning to hear the pending charges he faces and his rights as a defendant. He was confined to a wheelchair during the hearing because he was shot in the leg on Monday.
The Syrian native spoke only once during the proceedings - to tell the Judge he understood his rights.
Alissa's attorneys have requested a three-month delay in the trial so they can look into claims the 21-year-old suspect is mentally ill.
Police are still combing the King Soopers supermarket for evidence.
Before his trial, Alissa was last seen handcuffed and being led out of the supermarket by police.
He had removed all clothing except shorts before being taken into custody.
A rifle, a green tactical vest and a handgun were recovered inside the grocery store, according to an arrest affidavit.
The victims have been identified as: Denny Strong, 20, Eric Talley, 51, Neven Stanisic, 23, Rikki Olds, 25, Suzanne Fountain, 59, Terri Lieker, 51, Kevin Mahoney, 61, Lynn Murray, 62, Tralona Bartkowiak, 49, and Jodie Waters, 65.
Victims, L-R: Officer Eric Talley, who was among the first to respond, Lynne Murray, who was shopping and Rikki Olds and Teri Leiker who both worked in the store
Kevin Mahoney, 61, Denny Stong, 20, and Jody Waters, 65
Tralona Bartkowiak, 49, Suzanne Fountain, 59, and Neven Stanisic, 23
Officials revealed at a press conference Tuesday morning that some of the victims were at the store to get their COVID-19 vaccine.
Tributes have rushed in for the victims, including from Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone who broke down while reading the names of the ten people killed in a pre-game press conference on Tuesday.
More than 500 people bundled in winter jackets and wool hats attended a downtown candlelight vigil Wednesday night to mourn the victims and comfort one another.
They observed a moment of silence; violins soothed the crowd; and a helicopter clattered overhead as candle flames flickered in the crisp air.
Boulder resident Anna Chesny, 24, sang 'Ave Maria' for the mourning crowd, moving many to tears, USA Today News reported.
A star-shaped light usually turned on for the holidays glowed on a mountain overlooking the open square.
Hundreds gather at Fairview High School for a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of a mass shooting
More than 500 people bundled in winter jackets and wool hats attended a downtown candlelight vigil on Wednesday night to mourn the victims and comfort one another
A star-shaped light usually turned on for the holidays glowed on a mountain overlooking the open square and a woman sang 'Ave Maria' for the crowd, moving many to tears
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