Conrad Right lays down flowers at the fence surrounding a King Soopers supermarket in Boulder on March 23, 2021, the day after a mass shooting at the site. (Carl Payne for Colorado Newsline)
At about 2:30 p.m. on Monday, March 22, a man arrived at a King Soopers grocery store in south Boulder and opened fire using an assault rifle. He left 10 people dead, including Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley. Law enforcement took the suspect into custody at the scene.
Newsline will provide ongoing coverage of the case as the prosecution proceeds, new gun legislation is debated, and the community heals.
3 years ago
Boulder police release facts, tip line information related to mass shooting investigation
Boulder police on March 26 released information related to the investigation into what the agency termed the “Boulder Mass Casualty Incident” — the shooting that occurred in the afternoon of March 22 at a King Soopers grocery store in south Boulder, where 10 people lost their lives.
Investigation over four days
- Number of agencies from local, state and federal: 26
- Number of individuals from those agencies: 167
- Number of hours worked: approximately more than 3,000
- Number of tips/leads: more than 223
- Number of digital media devices collected: approximately 20
- Number of interviews completed: 156
Agencies involved
- Boulder Police Department
- Boulder County Sheriff’s Office
- ATF
- Boulder Incident Management
- Boulder OEM
- Colorado Bureau of Investigation
- City of Boulder
- Colorado Department of Public Safety
- Coroner’s Office
- COVA
- CUPD
- District Attorney’s Office
- FBI
- Gilpin County OEM
- LOEM
- Longmont Police
- Louisville Police
- NCR Homeland Security
- Timberline Fire Protection District
- U.S. Attorney’s Office
- Westminster Police Department
Tips:
- Detectives ask anyone with any information about the crime to submit it online.
- Images, video or other information may be submitted to the FBI.
- Tips may also be called in at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Last updated: 12:49 pm
3 years ago
‘There are no words’: Boulder community gathers to mourn lives taken during mass shooting
As the sun dipped below the mountains in Boulder on Thursday night, community members reportedly numbering at least 2,000 gathered outside Fairview High School to mourn the loss of 10 people who were gunned down at a local King Soopers grocery store on March 22.
“Let me be clear — we do not want to be here,” Nicole LiaBraaten, a volunteer with Moms Demand Action in Boulder who helped put on the vigil, told the crowd. “But this is what we do. We mourn the lives lost and we grieve, and then we take action.”
3 years ago
Boulder shooting prompts calls from Democrats for assault weapons ban in Colorado
In 2018, the city of Boulder passed an ordinance banning assault weapons, which it defined as “semi-automatic weapons designed with military features to allow rapid spray firing.”
A decision issued by Boulder County District Court Judge Andrew Hartman on March 12 found that ordinance to have violated state law, rendering it powerless unless the city were successful in seeking an appeal.
Less than two weeks after the court decision, a gunman entered a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder and killed 10 people, on March 22.
An arrest affidavit later said the suspect, 21-year-old Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa of Arvada, had purchased a Ruger AR-556 pistol on March 16. The AR-556 pistol appears to meet the criteria for what is commonly defined as an “assault weapon,” including in Ordinance 8245, the assault weapons ban passed by Boulder City Council.
If Boulder’s ban had still been in place, “I’m not going to pretend like it would have prevented the tragedy that happened,” Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg said in an interview Wednesday. Still, he thinks local governments should be able to regulate firearms as they see fit, and he plans to sponsor a bill that would repeal state preemption.
The state statute preempting local firearm bans reads: “A local government may not enact an ordinance, regulation, or other law that prohibits the sale, purchase, or possession of a firearm that a person may lawfully sell, purchase, or possess under state or federal law. Any such ordinance, regulation, or other law enacted by a local government … is void and unenforceable.”
Repealing the preemption law wouldn’t just affect whether assault weapons are banned in certain parts of Colorado.
Last updated: 11:52 am
3 years ago
Suspect makes first court appearance, charged on 10 counts of murder
The man suspected of gunning down 10 people in Monday’s mass shooting in Boulder made a brief first appearance in District Court on Thursday morning, beginning what prosecutors say will likely be a lengthy criminal trial process.
3 years ago
Sen. Bennet, Rep. Neguse to join state lawmakers in town hall on Boulder shooting
Colorado’s U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Joe Neguse, who represents Boulder, will join state and local Democratic leaders for a town hall in the aftermath of the mass shooting that killed 10 people at a Boulder King Soopers.
The virtual event will begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 24.
Coloradans can attend remotely on Zoom or watch on Facebook, where it will be streamed live from Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg’s page.
According to Fenberg’s email newsletter, participants in the event — billed as a “Community Conversation with Boulder Leaders” — include:
• Bennet
• Neguse
• Fenberg
• State Rep. Judy Amabile
• State Rep. Edie Hooton
• Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser
• Boulder Mayor Sam Weaver
• a representative from 20th Judicial District Attorney Michael Dougherty’s office
• “other Boulder County legislators”
The event represents an opportunity for “a conversation about how we move forward from this moment,” Bennet said on Twitter.
Tonight at 5pm, I'll be joining Boulder and Colorado leaders for a town hall and vigil.
Join us for a conversation about how we move forward from this moment: https://t.co/FqntZidUoW https://t.co/14mAsd2RnL
— Michael Bennet (@MichaelBennet) March 24, 2021
The event will offer an opportunity for participants to ask questions, Amabile said in an interview. The state representative from Boulder, whose district includes the King Soopers where the shooting took place, also told Newsline she supported a proposal to repeal a state law prohibiting local firearm regulations as well as state and federal bans on assault-style weapons.
Amabile said the tragedy illustrates that the state needs to expand mental health resources, too — though she noted that most people with mental health issues are not violent.
Still, while it could take months to find a psychiatrist in Boulder who accepts health insurance, “you can buy a gun in about five minutes,” Amabile pointed out.
Last updated: 3:50 pm
3 years ago
Mental health resources for those affected by the Boulder mass shooting
Here is a short list of mental health resources for members of the Boulder community and beyond
- Victims Assistance: People who have been directly affected by the tragedy can visit the Family Assistance Center at VIA Mobility Services located at 2855 63rd St. in Boulder. Open daily 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Info on victim compensation, personal effects, funeral expense support, behavioral health support and other resources.
- Mental Health Partners: Clinicians are operating remotely at this time and offering mental health services to community members. Call 303-443-8500 to schedule an appointment or visit the Walk-In clinic: 3180 Airport Road, Boulder
- Colorado Crisis Services: Confidential crisis support, information and referrals are available 24/7. Call: 1-844-493-TALK (8255).
- Community Health Workers: Community Health Workers is a virtual team of Mental Health Partners providers who are available on Facebook.
Last updated: 1:03 pm
3 years ago
First hearing for Boulder King Soopers alleged shooter set for Thursday morning
The suspect who is alleged to have gunned down 10 people in a Boulder King Soopers grocery store on Monday will have his first court hearing, in what will likely be a lengthy court process, on Thursday.
The hearing will take place at 8:15 a.m. on March 25 and will be available remotely.
- Link to the hearing: judicial.webex.com/webappng/sites/judicial/dashboard/pmr/thomas.mulvahil?siteurl=judicial
- Access code: 921 389 808, Courtroom L, Division 5
Last updated: 1:01 pm
3 years ago
Biden calls on Senate to act on background checks after mass shooting in Colorado
President Joe Biden on Tuesday urged the U.S. Senate to immediately pass legislation to close loopholes on background checks for guns and to ban assault weapons, following a mass shooting that killed 10 at a Colorado supermarket.
“This should not be a partisan issue,” Biden said. “This is an American issue.”
Biden’s remarks came after deadly gun violence in two states within a week.
Last updated: 12:58 pm
3 years ago
Tearful tributes to victims lost in Boulder shooting heard at Colorado Capitol
The day after a gunman opened fire at a Boulder grocery store, killing 10 people including one police officer, state lawmakers spent their morning at the Capitol honoring those lost and calling for action.
Last updated: 12:53 pm
3 years ago
Boulder suspect bought assault weapon six days before shooting
The suspect charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder following Monday’s mass shooting at a Boulder King Soopers had purchased an assault-style weapon just six days earlier, police said in an arrest affidavit Tuesday.
“Using law enforcement databases, investigators determined that (the suspect) had purchased a Ruger AR-556 pistol on March 16, 2021,” states the affidavit, which was filed by a Boulder Police Department detective and signed by a district court judge on Tuesday morning.
Last updated: 12:51 pm
3 years ago
Victims, suspect identified in Boulder mass shooting
Law enforcement officials on Tuesday morning released the identities of the 10 people killed in Monday’s mass shooting at a Boulder King Soopers, along with the name of the suspect, as state and local leaders sought to comfort the community after Colorado’s latest high-profile incident of deadly gun violence.
The victims identified by police on Tuesday are:
- Denny Stong, 20
- Neven Stanisic, 23
- Rikki Olds, 25
- Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
- Suzanne Fountain, 59
- Teri Leiker, 51
- Eric Talley, 51
- Kevin Mahoney, 61
- Lynn Murray, 62
- Jody Waters, 65
Last updated: 12:48 pm
3 years ago
At least 10 killed in mass shooting at Boulder King Soopers; suspect in custody
At least 10 people, including a police officer, are dead after a gunman opened fire at a Boulder grocery store on Monday, officials said in a press conference shortly before 8:30 p.m. Police have a suspect in custody and say that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
“Our hearts in this community go out to the victims of this horrific incident,” said Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold. “I want to reassure the community that they are safe, and that we will try to do our best over the next few hours to identify the victims.”
Last updated: 12:42 pm
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