Boulder Grocery Store Shooting Victims Identified

BOULDER, CO — An Arvada man was arrested after a shooting Monday at a Boulder grocery store that left 10 people dead, including a police officer, officials said. The shooting victims, who range from ages 20 to 65, were identified, police said.

Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, was charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder, Boulder police said. He is expected to be released from the hospital Tuesday after he suffered a gun shot wound to his leg. It's unclear whether he was shot by an officer.

The following victims have been identified:

• Eric Talley, 51
• Denny Stong, 20
• Neven Staisic, 23
• Rikki Olds, 25
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jody Waters, 65

>>>Here's how you can help those impacted by the shooting in Boulder.

"Our hearts ache for those who lost their lives, for their families, for the survivors who were left behind, for the survivors who were able to get out who have scars that can't be seen," Gov. Jared Polis said in a news conference Tuesday morning. "This is real horror and terror for all of us."

"Every level of law enforcement — federal, state and local, is working together to make sure that we can bring justice in this case," the governor said.

Thirty-five people with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Colorado State Patrol are assisting Boulder police with the investigation, Polis said.

If Alissa is found guilty, he will be "held responsible to the full extent of the law for his actions," the governor said.

The motive behind the deadly shooting has not yet been identified, investigators said.

Officers were called to the store, at 3600 Table Mesa Drive, around 2:40 p.m. after Alissa opened fire, police said.

Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley was the first officer to arrive at the store, and he was shot, officials said.

SWAT vehicles, ambulances, drones, a K9 team and hundreds of patrol cars surrounded the building while the Boulder Police Department used a megaphone to ask Alissa to come out of the store with his hands raised and surrender.

Officers took Alissa out of the store in handcuffs around 3:30 p.m., police said.

Police led more than 10 customers out of the store late Monday afternoon. Others were carried out in body bags.

Witnesses described hearing many gunshots, and trying to hide in closets, bathrooms, and anywhere they could run. Some customers and employees were able to escape out of loading docks.

"We are heartbroken, absolutely heartbroken," said U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, who represents Boulder. "This cannot be our new normal."

Dozens of law enforcement vehicles escorted an ambulance Monday night that was carrying Talley away from the King Soopers store where he was shot to death. Some people watched the procession with their arms raised in salute.

Talley had been with the Boulder Police Department since 2010, said Maris Herold, the department's chief.

"He loved his community," Herold said. "He's everything policing needs, he cared about this community, Boulder police, his family. He was willing to die to protect others, and that gets lost in translation."

President Joe Biden sent his condolences to the victims' families, and praised Talley for his bravery.

"I send my deepest condolences to his family — his close, close family of seven children," Biden said in a news conference.

"When he pinned on that badge yesterday morning, he didn't know what the day would bring. I want everybody to think about this. Every time an officer walks out of his or her home — pins that badge on — the family member that they just said goodbye to wonders whether, subconsciously, they will get that call, that call that his wife got.

"He thought he would be coming home to his family of seven children, but when the moment to act came, Officer Talley did not hesitate in his duty — making the ultimate sacrifice in his effort to save lives."

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