Boulder, Colo. – An evaluation by state experts revealed that Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, the man accused of shooting and killing ten people at a Colorado supermarket in 2021, had untreated mental illness. Despite this, Alissa was deemed legally sane at the time of the attack, according to lawyers who discussed the findings during a recent court hearing. This evaluation was conducted at a state mental hospital, with the results not publicly disclosed but referenced in the courtroom where Alissa and relatives of the victims were present.
The defense team disclosed that Alissa’s untreated mental illness, specifically schizophrenia with auditory hallucinations, was a significant factor in the tragic event. Attorney Sam Dunn highlighted that while the evaluators were not as confident in their conclusions about Alissa’s sanity compared to other cases, the exact reasoning was not elaborated upon. The prosecutors did not provide any additional details during the hearing, maintaining limitations on what information could be shared publicly regarding the evaluation.
Alissa has entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity in connection to the shooting at the King Soopers store in Boulder on March 22, 2021. This plea implies that his legal team asserts he was unable to discern between right and wrong at the time of the shooting, therefore should not be held liable for the crimes committed. Investigations suggest that Alissa had researched how to carry out a mass shooting prior to the incident, targeting moving individuals and causing the death of most victims within a short timeframe using a firearm with a high-capacity magazine.
Immediately following the shooting, questions regarding Alissa’s mental health arose, leading to a two-year delay in proceedings to ascertain his competency to stand trial. After being medicated against his will and found capable to proceed, he opted for the not guilty by reason of insanity plea last November. The judge recently granted the defense’s request for a second evaluation of Alissa’s sanity at the time of the shooting, albeit rejecting a significant trial delay sought by the defense, with the trial now set to commence on September 2, offering some closure to the victims’ families.
Among those present at the hearing, Erika Mahoney, daughter of victim Kevin Mahoney, expressed relief that the trial was not further postponed, allowing the families to potentially move forward from the tragedy before the upcoming holiday season. The decision to proceed with the trial in a timely manner was met with mixed emotions but ultimately considered a step forward in seeking justice for the victims of this devastating event.