Police identify suspect and victims in Boulder grocery store shooting
Published Date: 3/23/2021
Source: axios.com

10 people were killed in a shooting at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday, including one police officer, the local police department confirmed.

The latest: The suspect has been identified and charged with 10 counts of murder in the first degree, police said in a Tuesday morning update.


  • President Biden will give "brief remarks on the tragedy in Boulder" before leaving for Ohio on Tuesday afternoon, the White House said.
  • He has directed flags to be flown at half staff to honor the victims — as he did five days ago following the deadly Atlanta spa shootings.
  • The 21-year-old suspect, identified as Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, will be transferred to the Boulder County jail today after being hospitalized and treated for injuries on Monday night.
  • The slain officer was Eric Talley, 51, who was first on the scene and had been with the Boulder Police Department since 2010, said police Chief Maris Herold, who described him as "heroic."
  • The following victims were also identified: Denny Stong (20); Neven Stanisic (23); Rikki Olds (25); Tralona Bartkowiak (49); Suzanne Fountain (59); Teri Leiker (51); Kevin Mahoney (61); Lynn Murray (62); and Jody Waters (65).

County police, the FBI, ATF, and other Denver metropolitan agencies joined officers' response to the incident after a 911 call was made shortly before 3 p.m. local time. The suspect was taken into custody at 3:28 p.m.

  • The only person who was not killed but sustained significant injuries was the suspect, Yamaguchi said. A motive had not yet been determined, he said and
  • A live television feed showed a shirtless man being led away from the King Soopers store in handcuffs with a bloodied right leg. Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty confirmed the injured person in custody is the suspect.

What they're saying: Gov. Jared Polis (D) said in a statement Monday night, "Our community anxiously awaits more information on the victims, hoping it’s not our friends, coworkers and neighbors, but knowing in our tight knit community it will be, and even if we don’t personally know them, we all mourn their senseless killing and our sense of safety in our local grocery store."

  • Polis, a Boulder resident, added that he's "grieving with my community and all Coloradans."
  • Colorado Rep. Joe Neguse (D) tweeted he was "praying for the entire" Boulder community and "all of the first responders and law enforcement responding to this terrible incident."
  • Denver Public Safety Director Murphy Robinson said in a statement that he’s "committed Denver safety resources to assist with this situation for as long as needed."

What’s next: Herold said the "very complex" investigation would take at least five days to complete. Police did not comment on a potential motive on Tuesday.

The big picture: Colorado has been at the center of multiple fatal shootings in the past few years, the most recent being in 2019 when two students opened fire in a charter school in Highlands Ranch, ending in one death and eight injuries.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.