Ahmad Alissa, the Colorado man who gunned down 10 people at a Boulder supermarket in March 2021, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Alissa, 25, was found guilty on all 55 charges, including 10 counts of first-degree murder. The jury rejected his insanity defense and convicted him of murder. District Court Chief Judge Ingrid Bakke sentenced Alissa to 10 back-to-back life sentences, one for each murder count, as well as additional prison terms for other charges.
Alissa, armed with a Ruger AR-556 pistol, opened fire on people at the grocery store before being shot in the leg by police and arrested. Victims and family members of those killed described the devastating impact of the shooting on their lives. Madeline Talley, daughter of slain Boulder police Officer Eric Talley, expressed the pain of losing her father and the lasting impact on her life. Other victims included Denny Stong, Neven Stanisic, Rikki Olds, Tralona Bartkowiak, Suzanne Fountain, Teri Leiker, Kevin Mahoney, Lynn Murray, and Jody Waters.
Alissa was diagnosed with schizophrenia but his defense lawyers argued for not guilty by diminished capacity. It was revealed that he purchased an assault weapon six days before the attack. The killer’s older brother insisted that loved ones were unaware of his potential for violence. After the sentencing, Erika Mahoney, whose father was killed in the shooting, spoke about the need to stop mass shootings to protect future generations. Madeline Talley expressed forgiveness towards Alissa and her hope for his reconciliation with God. The total term handed down was 10 life sentences, with 1,334 years in state prison on top of that.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com