Trial for Colorado Supermarket Massacre to Focus on Shooter’s Mental State

In March 2021, tragedy struck in Boulder, Colorado, when Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa carried out a mass shooting at a local supermarket, resulting in the deaths of ten individuals. The violence erupted swiftly, beginning when a man in a van was fatally shot shortly after attempting to fix a coffee machine inside the store. Over the next minute, the chaos unfolded as Alissa targeted anyone he encountered.

The scene was one of terror; survivors scrambled to escape through back exits, while others sought refuge behind shelves and checkout counters, hiding from the assailant for over an hour.

Alissa, then just 21 years old, eventually surrendered to law enforcement after sustaining a leg injury from police fire. He emerged from the store in only his underwear, repeatedly pleading for officers to contact his mother. While his lawyers acknowledge he is the shooter, the underlying reasons for his actions remain unspecified as his trial commences this week.

During a competency hearing last year, a mental health evaluator shared that Alissa had expressed intentions to purchase firearms for a mass shooting, hinting at a desire for police to end his life. Such statements, however, have not clarified his motives.

Robert Olds, uncle of Rikki Olds, a store manager killed in the attack, plans to sit in the front row for the entirety of the trial. Rikki, known for her vibrant personality and humor, was shot at close range near the supermarket entrance. Olds has, at times, wished Alissa had not survived, yet he clings to the hope of learning why his niece and the others lost their lives. He firmly believes that Alissa was aware of his actions.

“I hope he goes to prison for the rest of his life, and then he’ll face the real consequence when he meets God and must answer for killing 10 people,” Olds stated.

The forthcoming trial will primarily scrutinize Alissa’s mental state during the incident. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, he has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. His defense claims that his mental illness inhibited his ability to distinguish right from wrong.

In court filings, it was argued that Alissa’s family reported he harbored paranoid beliefs—feeling persecuted by the FBI—and exhibited signs of hallucinations. Conversely, prosecutors maintain that Alissa had never received prior treatment for any mental health issues and was capable of working extensive hours leading up to the tragedy, which raises questions about the severity of his condition.

Alissa faces ten counts of first-degree murder, along with 15 counts of attempted murder and other charges pertaining to the possession of high-capacity ammunition magazines banned in Colorado after previous mass shooting incidents.

There have been delays in the trial as experts initially determined Alissa was unable to grasp legal proceedings and assist with his defense. However, after undergoing forced medication, he demonstrated improvement, prompting a judge to declare him mentally competent earlier this month.

The onus will be on prosecutors to establish that Alissa was sane and fully aware of his actions and intent to kill on that fateful day.

One perplexing aspect of this case is Alissa’s decision to target the Boulder grocery store—a location approximately 15 miles away from his home in Arvada, a place he reportedly had never visited before. Evidence indicates that in the months prior to the attack, he conducted extensive research about assault weapons, firearm operation, and deadly ammunition types. Additionally, documentation revealed internet searches related to the tragic New Zealand mosque shootings in 2019, further complicating the narrative of his motivations.

Alissa immigrated to the United States from Syria as a young child and lived with his family in Arvada, where they owned a restaurant. The only noteworthy incident in his past was a conviction for assault while in high school, coupled with recollections from former classmates about volatile behavior during sports activities.

According to court documents, Alissa had been playing with what a relative described as a “machine gun” days before the shooting, before two other family members intervened to take the weapon from him.

As the trial approaches, several of Alissa’s relatives are slated to testify for his defense. Potential jurors are expected to be questioned soon, with opening statements anticipated by the end of the week.

Experts will provide critical assessments regarding Alissa’s mental health, possibly including video footage of interviews with him. If the jury determines that Alissa was not legally insane, they may still consider whether he lacked the mental capacity to act with intent and deliberation, leading to a possible conviction of second-degree murder instead.

A court evaluation from mental health professionals concluded that, while Alissa was mentally sane during the incident, his untreated schizophrenia played a pivotal role in the tragedy unfolding that day.

Robert Olds is preparing himself for the grim details that may emerge during the trial, including surveillance footage that has not been publicly shown. Despite the challenges ahead, he believes that concluding the trial will allow him and the other victims’ families to start the grieving process.

“There’s no such thing as moving on. It’s finding other ways to live without your loved one,” he reflected.