Man Accused of Boulder Grocery Store Shooting Deemed Fit for Trial
Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, the man suspected of killing ten people in a Boulder, Colorado, grocery store in 2021, has been deemed fit to stand trial, a judge ruled on Friday. The judge also ordered that Alissa be held in custody at a state hospital to ensure he takes medication to maintain his competency.
Alissa is accused of opening fire on March 22, 2021, at a King Soopers grocery store, resulting in the deaths of ten people, including a store manager and a police officer. He is facing a total of 54 charges, including ten counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Initially, Colorado District Judge Ingrid Bakke ruled Alissa incompetent to stand trial in December 2021. However, after being evaluated by multiple doctors, it was determined that Alissa’s condition worsened while in jail and he was then sent to a state hospital for treatment. In her recent order, Judge Bakke restored his competency and noted that although Alissa has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, he does not suffer from delusions that would impede his ability to stand trial.
Following the ruling, Bakke urged the state hospital to retain Alissa due to the “gravity of this case.” The Colorado Mental Health Institute (CMHI) in Pueblo has granted the request to keep Alissa in its custody for the duration of the ongoing case.
The Boulder County District Attorney, Michael Dougherty, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating that it provides hope for the victim families that justice will be served. Alissa’s defense attorney, Kathryn Herold, has yet to comment on the order.
The suspect’s ability to purchase a firearm came into question following the shooting. It was revealed that Alissa had acquired a Ruger AR-556 on March 16, 2021, after passing a background check. According to law enforcement sources, nothing in the federal system would have prevented Alissa from passing the background check and purchasing the firearm.
The suspect had a previous encounter with law enforcement in 2018 when he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of third-degree assault. The incident involved an attack on a high school classmate. Alissa was sentenced to probation, community service, and anger response treatment.
Alissa’s condition has been closely monitored since being admitted to the state hospital. Evaluators noted impoverished speech and thoughts upon his arrival in December 2021. Impoverished speech, associated with brain disorders, limits the ability to communicate due to mental illness, injury, or disease. Alissa’s condition began to decline in March 2023 after he refused to take his antipsychotic medication. However, his condition significantly improved when he started court-ordered medication during his treatment at CMHI.
During a restoration hearing, several doctors testified that Alissa should not be sent back to the Boulder County Jail due to concerns about him refusing medication. They emphasized that not all jails have the capacity to maintain involuntary medication. The judge agreed that Alissa’s competency remains “tenuous” and is contingent on his compliance with medication.
The Colorado Department of Human Services also determined in a competency re-evaluation report that Alissa is currently fit to stand trial, emphasizing the importance of his medication regime and therapeutic environment at the state hospital.
A preliminary hearing to assess Alissa’s competency is scheduled for November 14, during which prosecutors will present evidence and witnesses supporting their argument that he is fit to stand trial.