Judge Declares Colorado Supermarket Shooting Suspect Mentally Fit for Trial

On Friday, a judicial decision established that Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, the individual charged with the killing of 10 people in a Colorado supermarket in 2021, is mentally competent to face trial. This ruling allows the previously halted legal proceedings to continue.

Presiding Judge Ingrid Bakke concluded that Alissa, diagnosed with schizophrenia, possesses the mental capacity to comprehend the legal process and partake in his own defense. The judge’s verdict was reached following a recent hearing which examined an August assessment by mental health specialists from a state institution. This assessment found Alissa mentally competent, in contrast to earlier evaluations that suggested otherwise. The defense had requested this hearing to dispute the state experts’ findings.

Judge Bakke elaborated that Alissa demonstrated a “significantly enhanced ability to articulate his thought processes and decision-making skills,” a pivotal factor in assessing competency, after he had undergone forced medication. Competency is partially determined by Alissa’s capacity to make informed choices regarding his case, including the decision to testify on his own behalf.

The 24-year-old Alissa faces charges of murder and several counts of attempted murder related to a shooting rampage that occurred on March 22, 2021, at a King Soopers Store in Boulder, approximately 30 miles northwest of Denver. Alissa has yet to enter a plea.

Eyewitness accounts reveal that Alissa commenced the attack by shooting at least one individual in the supermarket’s parking area before entering the store. Staff and shoppers scrambled to evade the assailant, fleeing through rear loading docks or seeking refuge in adjacent stores.

Alissa was apprehended by a SWAT team, although authorities have not yet disclosed the motive behind the attack. His mental state showed marked improvement after a court-mandated medication regimen was administered to treat his schizophrenia, as testified by a psychologist during last week’s prosecution proceedings. Alissa had been admitted to a state mental hospital in December 2021.

In the August assessment, Alissa responded to questions concerning the shooting day and the crimes he is alleged to have committed. Loandra Torres, a forensic psychologist who evaluated Alissa, conveyed that he had purchased firearms with the intent of carrying out a mass shooting and had contemplated engaging in “suicide by cop.”

Prior evaluations conducted between 2021 and 2022 had largely deemed Alissa unfit for trial, mostly due to his inability to communicate effectively or his outright refusal to discuss the charges levied against him, as stated by Torres.

It is important to note that being declared mentally competent for trial does not imply a cure for schizophrenia—a disorder that can distort one’s perception of reality and can potentially hinder legal defense. Additionally, mental competency is distinct from a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, which argues that the accused’s mental condition rendered them unable to distinguish right from wrong during the commission of the crime.

District Attorney Michael Dougherty expressed that the judge’s ruling offers some solace to the victims’ families, asserting that the case can now progress toward delivering justice. Robert Olds, who lost his 25-year-old niece Rikki Olds in the shooting, commented that the ruling is “a step in the right direction.”

Legal representatives for Alissa, who are public defenders, have not issued comments to the media regarding the case. Following this ruling on competency, Judge Bakke is slated to conduct a hearing on November 14 to determine if sufficient evidence exists for the case to proceed to trial.

Judge Bakke further indicated that, although she cannot mandate Alissa’s continued stay at the state hospital, she recommends he remain there due to the facility’s capability to administer forced medication, a feature lacking in the jail setting. Alissa had previously stated that he would cease taking his medication if returned to jail—a situation that occurred temporarily during last week’s hearing.

Experts have warned that transferring Alissa between the hospital and the jail could risk his mental regression, a result Judge Bakke characterized as “injustice to all those affected by this case.” The state hospital is located roughly 140 miles away from Boulder and has faced longstanding issues with demand for its services.

The renovated King Soopers store reopened its doors last year, with about half of the previous staff choosing to return.

The reporting for this article was contributed by Bedayn, a member of the Big Big News/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative—a national nonprofit service program aimed at bolstering local journalism.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about mental competency for trial

More about mental competency for trial

• Mental Competency in Criminal Proceedings
• Overview of Schizophrenia Treatment
• Legal Definitions: Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity vs Mental Competency
• The 2021 Boulder, Colorado Mass Shooting: Timeline and Facts
• Court Procedures for High-Profile Criminal Cases
• State Mental Hospitals: Capacity and Demand
• Colorado District Attorney Statements on High-Profile Cases