Officials in Boulder, Colo., have publicly identified the suspect and victims in Monday’s mass shooting that left 10 people dead at a supermarket in the Denver suburb.
At a press briefing Tuesday morning, Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold fought back tears as she read aloud the names and ages of those killed:
• Denny Strong, 20
• Neven Stanisic, 23
• Rikki Olds, 25
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Eric Talley, 51
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jodi Waters, 65
The suspect was identified as Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, of Arvada, Colo., who was charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder. Herold said the suspect was wounded in an exchange of gunfire with police and taken into custody. He is in stable condition and is expected to be transferred to Boulder County Jail later Tuesday.
An affidavit released Tuesday afternoon showed that the alleged gunman purchased an assault rifle less than a week before the attack. It did not say where the gun was purchased.
“I’m so sorry this happened,” Herold said. “We are going to do everything in our power to make sure this suspect has a thorough trial.”
A motive has yet to be identified. Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty stressed that the investigation is in its early stages.
Talley was the first officer to respond to reports of an armed man inside the King Soopers store. The 51-year-old father of seven had been a member of the Boulder Police force since 2010.
“I live three blocks up the street from that store,” Herold said. “You’re worried about your neighbors. You’re worried about your partner. You’re worried about everything when you get that call. And so, yeah, I feel numb. It’s heartbreaking.”
Mahoney’s daughter, Erika, posted a tribute to her slain father on Twitter.
I am heartbroken to announce that my Dad, my hero, Kevin Mahoney, was killed in the King Soopers shooting in my hometown of Boulder, CO. My dad represents all things Love. I’m so thankful he could walk me down the aisle last summer. pic.twitter.com/SLS2bdm5Hc
— Erika Mahoney (@MahoneyEb) March 23, 2021
“I am heartbroken to announce that my Dad, my hero, Kevin Mahoney, was killed in the King Soopers shooting in my hometown of Boulder,” she tweeted. “My dad represents all things Love. I’m so thankful he could walk me down the aisle last summer.”
Erika Mahoney, news director at KAZU Public Radio in Monterrey, Calif., added that she is pregnant and expecting a girl.
“I know he wants me to be strong for his granddaughter,” she wrote.
The massacre in Boulder comes less than a week after shootings at three spas in the Atlanta area left eight people dead. It was the nation’s deadliest mass shooting since the 2019 massacre at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, where 22 people were killed in a rampage that police said targeted Mexicans.
[Related: Boulder’s assault weapons ban was blocked by a judge 10 days before supermarket shooting]
“It’s been a painful year, as we sit here once again, surrounded by seemingly incomprehensible loss,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said. “People who started their day with a cup of coffee and reading the morning paper, or perhaps getting their kids ready and putting on a winter coat to go out. Maybe they were making last-minute spring break plans, but none of them expected that this would be their last day here on the planet.”
President Biden ordered all flags at the White House to be flown at half staff in honor of the victims of Monday’s massacre.
The president then called on Congress to reform the nation’s gun laws — and ban assault weapons.
“I don’t need to wait another minute — or another hour — to take common sense steps that will save lives in the future,” Biden said.
“This shouldn’t be a bipartisan issue,” he added. “This is an American issue that will save lives — American lives. And we have to act.”
