https://widgets.cpr.org/2021/embed-article-boulder-shooting-lookout-signup.html?experiment=boulder-shooting-coverage Some of those who knew the man now
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Some of those who knew the man now accused of
killing 10 in a Boulder King Soopers remembered him as troubled, but not someone they would have suspected to act on his aggression in such a horrifying way.
Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, had been a student at Arvada West high school where he wrestled in what has historically been one of the state’s premier programs.
“He was a nice kid,” said Tyson Crosby, whose son wrestled against Alissa at Arvada West. Alissa was in the 152 pound weight class. “He did have some periods of, a little bit of anger management issues I would say. He would get frustrated and he would become very explosive.”
Jefferson County schools verified that Alissa was enrolled at Arvada West from March 2015 to May 2018. And he was on the wrestling team in 2016-17 season and 2017-18 season. The team last won the state championship in 2015.
“So even back then I knew that he was struggling with some anger,” said Crosby. It wasn’t exactly clear what the root cause of that anger was, but, “he definitely was a little frustrated with life, I think in general. I would have never expected to hear what I heard [about the shooting], that came as a complete shock.”
His public criminal history is sparse, and would not have been enough to prohibit him from owning a firearm. Boulder Police say he was armed with a “patrol rifle” as he opened fire in the parking lot, then inside the King Soopers on Table Mesa Drive at 2:40 p.m. Monday.
The
affidavit in support of an arrest affidavit for Alissa said he had purchased an AR-556 "pistol" on March 16, six days before the shooting and the same day another man went on a shooting rampage at Georgia massage businesses. The Ruger website shows that as an assault-type rifle that resembles an AR-15.
Joe Wertz/CPR NewsBoulder Police Chief Maris Herold speaks to reporters at a press conference hours after the March 22, 2021 shooting that killed 10 people at King Soopers in Boulder, Colo.
Police said he was carrying a handgun and a "possible AR-15" rifle at the King Soopers. His sister-in-law told authorities Monday night that she had seen Alissa with a "machine gun" type rifle just in the past couple of days. Someone who is not identified in the affidavit became annoyed with Alissa for playing with the rifle in the house and took it away. It is not clear if that is the rifle police said was used at the King Soopers.
He was wounded in a gunfight with Boulder officers. Officer Eric Talley was killed. Nine other shoppers and employees were also killed in the mass shooting.
CBI records show Alissa was previously arrested on Nov. 27, 2017 for misdemeanor 3rd degree assault, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence, inflicting bodily injury on another person.
The incident happened at school.
According to the officer notes in the court records, Alissa “got up in classroom, walked over to victim & ‘cold cocked’ him in the head.” The victim fell to the floor and Alissa got on top of him and “punched him in the head several more times.” Witnesses couldn’t provide a reason for the altercation according to the officer. The victim had “bruising, swelling & cuts to head.”
Alissa told the officer that the victim “had made fun of him & called him racial names earlier.” Alissa eventually pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year of probation, including anger management classes, and 48 hours of community service.
Between high school and Monday at King Soopers, Alissa's appearance changed considerably. Gone was the 152-pound wrestler who appears fit and athletic in photos, and listed himself as 140 pounds at the time of his high school arrest. At the time of his arrest Monday, authorities listed him as 5-6 and 200 pounds.
Neighbors of the Alissa family in an Arvada subdivision were surprised to learn of their neighbor's connection to the shooting.
“The whole family is pretty much quiet,” said Scott Manning, who lives a few doors down from the Alissa household. Manning described a neighborhood where people mostly kept to themselves, and interactions with the family were sporadic but friendly. “Nothing that really red flagged or anything.”
Alissa sustained a “through-and-through” gunshot wound to his right leg and was first treated at a local hospital. He was booked into the Boulder County Jail at 10:49 a.m. Tuesday on multiple counts of first-degree murder after deliberation. He is scheduled to make his first appearance before a judge at 8:15 a.m. Thursday.