BOULDER, Colo. — The suspect in the March 22 Boulder King Soopers shooting will face an additional 43 charges after the prosecution filed a motion Wednesday.
Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, was already facing 11 charges — 10 counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder for the 10 victims of the shooting and an alleged attempt to kill a police officer who had responded to the scene.
Now, Alissa faces an additional 32 counts of attempted first-degree murder for the other people in and around the store, as well as other responding law enforcement, 1 count of first-degree assault and 10 counts of carrying prohibited large capacity magazines.
The District Attorney’s Office held a press briefing on Thursday at 10 a.m. to give an update on the ongoing investigation and prosecution in the mass shooting. District Attorney Michael Dougherty gave an update on the next steps in the court process.
WATCH THE BRIEFING BELOW
For the assault charge, Dougherty said it's for a person who was injured while fleeing the shooting.
“Count 43 is a charge of assault in the first-degree," said Dougherty. There was one individual who was injured as a result of what took place at King Soopers. She was fleeing in an attempt to get away and went down and fractured her T6 vertebrae.”
According to an affidavit for the suspect’s arrest, he started shooting around 2:40 p.m. local time on March 22 and was taken into custody at 3:28 p.m. Officers recovered a tactical vest, a rifle that the affidavit says was a “possible AR-15,” a semiautomatic handgun, a pair of jeans and a long-sleeve shirt.
Dougherty said all of the counts that he listed are arguably counts that can run consecutive if the defendant is sentenced for the crimes, so they can run one on top of the other.
"They represent victims who have right to be heard and supported, so that’s why these additional charges are being filed to recognize all victims in this case,” said Dougherty.
Because the investigation is still in its early stages, Dougherty said he anticipates there will be additional counts for “crimes of violence” and for attempted murder.
Regarding why suspect chose to target the King Soopers, Dougherty said they’re working with the FBI to determine that, but “at this point, we don’t have information about a specific motive.
He said he understands the community and the victims’ families want to know why the tragedy happened.
"When and if we have that information, we’ll certainly share it with the community,” he said.
Alissa made his first court appearance March 25. The suspect's attorney, Colorado Public Defender Kathryn Herold, asked for a status conference before the proof evident, presumption great hearing and preliminary hearing to evaluate the suspect's mental health.
"We cannot begin to assess the nature and depths of Mr. Alissa's mental illness until we have the discovery from the government," she said during the hearing.
The suspect would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if he is convicted, as Colorado repealed the state’s death penalty last year.
Alissa is being held without bond and without the possibility of release.
This story was originally published by Blayke Roznowski at KMGH.
