AURORA – A man who in 2021 committed a mass shooting that killed 10 people at a grocery store in Colorado was sentenced on Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted of first-degree murder.
Conviction and Sentencing
Alissa, 25, who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, was found guilty on 10 counts of first-degree murder and numerous counts of attempted murder and weapons offenses by a jury in Boulder District Court. During the sentencing, Judge Ingrid Bakke imposed the mandatory sentence according to Colorado law. After victims’ family members addressed the court, Colorado Governor Jared Polis expressed hope that the verdict could provide some peace to those affected by the tragedy.
Concentrate on Mental Condition
The question was Alissa’s state of mind at the time he shot. He had been diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia and highly mentally ill at the time; however, Colorado law bases its right for an insanity defense on a defendant’s ability to distinguish right from wrong. The jury determined that he could.
Events of the Attack
On 22 March 2021, Alissa used a Ruger AR-556 pistol, which he legally purchased, to attack the King Soopers grocery store around 30 miles (50 kilometers) northwest of Denver. The two people inside were shot dead in the parking lot, while eight others who had sought shelter inside the shop, including one police officer summoned to the scene, were shot.
Eyewitness accounts
Albany County District Attorney Michael Dougherty described Alissa as “calm and ruthless” in his closing arguments. Witnesses had recounted terrifying experiences; one pharmacist, Sarah Chen, testified that Alissa seemed to enjoy the brutality, yelling, “This is fun, this is so much fun,” as he opened fire on victims.
Reflections of Victims’ Families
Alissa did not testify in his own defense. Under victim impact statements, Erika Mahoney, whose father was killed in the shooting, spoke about her grief and lamented that Alissa needed so much more love in his life, perhaps had that been the case, this tragedy may never have occurred. She called for an end to mass shootings in the United States, showing the larger context of violence.
Ongoing Debates Regarding Gun Violence
This case continues adding to the public discussion on mental health, gun violence, and the country’s failure in preventing those acts of mass shooting.