Colo. grocery store shooting suspect found incompetent to stand trial

carleyshaffer1December 4, 2021

FILE – Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, accused of killing 10 people at a Colorado supermarket in March, is led into a courtroom for a hearing Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. Experts have found Alissa is mentally incompetent to proceed in the case, attorneys said during a court hearing, Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski/Pool, File)

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UPDATED 11:46 AM PT – Saturday, December 4, 2021

The man accused of killing 10 people at a Boulder, Colorado supermarket has been deemed incompetent to stand trial as of right now. District Attorney Michael Dougherty made the announcement on Friday, emphasizing this is the third time 22-year-old Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa has been found incompetent to proceed with his murder case.

“The doctor, who’s a widely respected expert, found the shooter to be incompetent to stand trial, which means at this point in time, he’s incompetent to stand trial,” said Dougherty. “This is actually the third evaluation that he’s had. He was evaluated by a defense expert. Then, he was evaluated by two doctors from the state hospital, and then he was most recently evaluated by a doctor who he helped select, who the prosecutors helped to select.”

Alissa is accused of opening fire at King Soopers Market and fatally shooting 10 people, including a police officer in March. A court has requested he be sent to a state mental hospital to receive further treatment.

BOULDER, CO - MARCH 23: Hashtag BoulderStronger and flowers are left on the fencing surrounding the grocery store the day after a gunman opened fired at a King Sooper's grocery store on March 22, 2021 in Boulder, Colorado. The suspect, Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, was reportedly charged in the shooting at a grocery store where ten people were killed, including one police officer. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images)

BOULDER, COLO. – MARCH 23: Hashtag BoulderStronger and flowers are left on the fencing surrounding the grocery store the day after a gunman opened fired at a King Sooper’s grocery store on March 22, 2021 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images)

Additionally, Dougherty said he’s confident he would be able to face criminal charges once he receives the proper medication and treatment.

“I will say that with all four doctors reaching the same conclusion. And in particular, this most recent evaluation being an incredibly thorough and detailed report, that I believe the best course of action at this time in order to ensure justice is done, is to have him sent to the state hospital as quickly as possible and restored to competency so we can get him back here and move forward with the case,” Dougherty stated.

Neither the prosecution nor Dougherty discussed why Alissa was found incompetent in Friday’s hearing. However, Alissa’s defense attorney stated that he suffers from a “serious” mental illness.

Meanwhile, he faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and dozens of other charges in connection to the shooting. He’s set to appear in court March 15 for a restoration review.