Boulder Grocery Store Shooting: Alissa Incompetent To Stand Trial

BOULDER, CO — The man accused of killing 10 people at a Boulder King Soopers store has again been deemed incompetent to stand trial.

Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa has now been found incompetent by four doctors.

In a Friday court hearing, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty requested that Alissa undergo treatment at a state mental health hospital in Pueblo in an effort to restore his competency.

"Every 30 days, we'll get an update sent to us, to see where they are at with the competency restoration," Dougherty said.

"Based on the latest evaluation by the doctor, I'm confident that he will be restored to competency."

Alissa is accused of killing nine shoppers and workers inside and outside the store and one of the first three police officers who entered the store.

Alissa has also been charged with attempted first-degree murder over firing at 26 other people, including 11 law enforcement officers, investigators said. Alissa is accused of unlawfully possessing 10 high-capacity ammunition magazines, devices banned in Colorado after previous mass shootings.

Alissa's evaluations were conducted to find out whether he is able to help his lawyers defense and understand court proceedings. The evaluation is a separate legal issue than a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, which hinges on whether someone's mental health prevented them from knowing right from wrong when a crime was committed.

"Currently the doctors have determined that he's deteriorated while at the Boulder County jail and he needs medical treatment — both medicine being provided and treatment being provided — to restore him to competency so he can be sent back to Boulder County and stand trial," Dougherty said.

Alissa is able to understand the charges against him and his possible sentence, but he is unable to meaningfully converse with people, according to court documents.

"Certainly someone could try to fake that they have a mental illness or that they're incompetent," Dougherty said.

"But these doctors look out for that kind of thing — they're very well-trained and experienced in looking for individuals who might be what we call 'malingering' or 'faking' a mental illness."

A judge scheduled another hearing for March 15, 2022, to find out whether progress has been made on Alissa's treatment. If he is restored earlier, the court date could be moved up, Dougherty said.

"This is certainly a delay in this case, but this case is not over," he said.