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Colorado Massacre Suspect Identified as Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa

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The suspect of the shooting at a crowded supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday afternoon that left 10 people dead has been identified as Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa.

The 21-year-old was shot in the leg by a Boulder police officer and taken into custody following the attack at the King Soopers store, KCNC-TV reported.

Alissa has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and will be booked into the Boulder County Jail when he is released from the hospital, the Boulder Police Department said during a Tuesday morning news conference.

The department said Alissa has spent “most of his life in the United States.”

His Facebook page, which has been deleted, showed that he lived in Syria until he was about 2 years old, when he moved to the United States, according to Heavy.

Police have not yet offered a motive for the shooting.

Alissa’s brother, Ali, told The Daily Beast that Alissa was “very anti-social” and, during high school, would describe “being chased, someone is behind him, someone is looking for him.”

“When he was having lunch with my sister in a restaurant, he said, ‘People are in the parking lot, they are looking for me.’ She went out, and there was no one. We didn’t know what was going on in his head,” the brother said.

A witness told The Denver Post that the suspect had entered the grocery store without a word.

“He just came in and started shooting,” the person said.

Police responded to the shooting at about 2:40 p.m. and exchanged gunfire with the suspect, who shot and killed Boulder Officer Eric Talley, 51.

According to Boulder police, the others killed in the shooting were 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.

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“The man who gunned them down will be held fully responsible,” Boulder District Attorney Michael Doughtery said during Tuesday’s news conference.

“This is a tragedy and a nightmare for Boulder Couty,” he added. “We’ll be doing everything we can to fight for them and their families to be sure we reach the right and just outcome.”

Videos emerged on social media following the shooting that seemed to show the suspect being arrested and led to a stretcher.

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Erin Coates was an editor for The Western Journal for over two years before becoming a news writer. A University of Oregon graduate, Erin has conducted research in data journalism and contributed to various publications as a writer and editor.
Erin Coates was an editor for The Western Journal for over two years before becoming a news writer. She grew up in San Diego, California, proceeding to attend the University of Oregon and graduate with honors holding a degree in journalism. During her time in Oregon, Erin was an associate editor for Ethos Magazine and a freelance writer for Eugene Magazine. She has conducted research in data journalism, which has been published in the book “Data Journalism: Past, Present and Future.” Erin is an avid runner with a heart for encouraging young girls and has served as a coach for the organization Girls on the Run. As a writer and editor, Erin strives to promote social dialogue and tell the story of those around her.
Birthplace
Tucson, Arizona
Nationality
American
Honors/Awards
Graduated with Honors
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, University of Oregon
Books Written
Contributor for Data Journalism: Past, Present and Future
Location
Prescott, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English, French
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Health, Entertainment, Faith




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