BOULDER, Colo. — During a court testimony on Wednesday, a mental health evaluator revealed that Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, the man accused of killing 10 people in a Colorado supermarket in 2021, confessed to buying firearms for the purpose of carrying out a mass shooting and expressed a desire for police to kill him. Loandra Torres, the forensic psychologist who evaluated Alissa, stated that he made these statements during an August evaluation at a state mental hospital, which determined that he was mentally competent to stand trial. Torres also noted that Alissa, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, acknowledged that there were firearms with his fingerprints on them that could be used as evidence against him.
Alissa is facing charges of murder and multiple attempted murder counts following the shooting rampage that occurred on March 22, 2021, at a King Soopers store in Boulder. He has not yet entered a plea. The court held the hearing to assess Alissa’s fitness for trial, as requested by his public defender, Kathryn Herold, who sought an opportunity to contest the competency finding. The forced medication Alissa has been receiving since March, administered under a court order, has significantly improved his mental condition, according to Torres and another psychologist who testified for the prosecution. Prior to the forced medication, his condition had been deteriorating.
Defense attorney Herold questioned the impartiality of the competency evaluators, especially in high-profile cases like this one. Torres, who has been assessing Alissa, stated that prior to his admission to the state hospital in December 2021, he had never been hospitalized, treated, or medicated for psychiatric issues. Individual therapy sessions, along with the forced medication, contributed to Alissa’s increased competence, Torres explained. The judge mandated the two-day hearing but denied Herold’s request for another evaluation from the mental hospital.
It is important to note that mental competency refers to Alissa’s ability to comprehend court proceedings and assist with his defense, but it does not imply that he has been cured. Separately, pleading not guilty by reason of insanity would assert that Alissa’s mental health prevented him from understanding the difference between right and wrong when he committed the crime. In his conversations with Torres, Alissa discussed using this plea as a legal strategy. The August evaluation marked the first ruling of Alissa’s competency. The case has been on hold, but the victims and families of those killed are eager for it to progress.
According to psychologist Julie Gallagher, Alissa’s prolonged inability to reach mental competency is unusual and can be attributed to the severity of his illness. The mental hospital experts determined his competency based on consistent medication use and a stable therapeutic environment. However, prosecutors in August added that his competency remains “tenuous.” Recently, Alissa exhibited uncharacteristically aggressive behavior by repeatedly punching another patient in the face. Torres revealed that earlier evaluations in 2021 and 2022 deemed Alissa incompetent for trial due to his difficulty in communicating and his refusal to discuss the allegations against him. However, he became more forthcoming in August and admitted to purchasing firearms for the purpose of committing a mass shooting. Torres also stated that Alissa mentioned a potential intention to provoke law enforcement into killing him.
The shooting in Boulder left employees, customers, and a police officer dead. Alissa was apprehended at the scene. The King Soopers store has since reopened after undergoing renovations. Victims’ families have been awaiting progress in the case for over a year, and their need for closure remains pressing. The competency proceedings on Wednesday provided an opportunity for some to observe the suspect in person. Nick Edwards, who was present during the shooting with his mother, expressed the desire for Alissa to be held accountable for his actions. The case will continue to move forward, keeping in mind the magnitude of the tragedy and the impact it has had on the community.
