King Soopers shooting trial begins with jury selection in Boulder

Jury selection began Monday in the long-delayed trial of the man accused of killing 10 people in the 2021 mass shooting at a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder.

Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 25, is accused of ten counts of premeditated murder in connection with the Table Mesa store robbery and over 100 other charges.

He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. That is, his lawyers do not dispute that he was responsible for the mass shooting. However, they say he cannot be held responsible because he was so mentally ill at the time of the murders that he could not distinguish between right and wrong.

The focus of the trial will be on Alissa’s mental state at the time of the attack and not whether or not he carried out the shooting spree.

Alissa’s lawyers argued at a hearing earlier this month that his comments to police officers in the chaotic moments after the killings should not be admitted as evidence in the jury trial because he had not been advised of his right to remain silent.

Boulder County District Court Chief Judge Ingrid Bakke ruled against the defense in an order last week, finding that Alissa’s comments were voluntary and not coerced by police officers.