21-YEAR-OLD COLORADO SHOOTER CHARGED WITH 1ST DEGREE MURDER

What began as an ordinary grocery store trip took a turn for the worst for the city of Boulder, Colorado, and the shoppers of the Boulder King Soopers grocery store. Gunman, Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, opened fire within the store, leaving 10 people dead, including Eric Talley, a Boulder police officer who was the first on the scene of the shooting. Alissa has been charged with ten counts of murder along with one count of attempted first-degree murder.

Only three months into the new year, and so far, the nation has experienced two mass shootings, with the first being the Atlanta shooting leaving 8 people dead.

Amidst the shooting, Dean Schiller went live from his personal social media account and captured a video of the event, and reported it to the police. The weapon in use was a Ruger AR-556 that's purchased six days ahead of the massacre. Two days before the incident, the shooter's sister-in-law saw Alissa "playing" with what she assumed was a "machine gun." As Alissa was appended, he walked backward into SWAT custody where he was seen he stripped down to his undergarments and was sent to the hospital to be treated for a gunshot to the leg that he attained during the attack.

The community of Boulder and its leaders are standing together to evaluate the events that went on Monday afternoon. Boulder Police Chief, Maris Herold, expressed her concern in a news conference:

“My heart goes out to the victims of this incident”

Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold speaks during a press conference about the mass shooting investigation in Boulder on Tuesday, March 22, 2021. Ten people were killed in the shooting, including a Boulder police officer. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)

This upset in Colorado made its way to the Capitol with President Biden weighing in on the matters of gun control and the necessary next steps for the victims and their families. With Colorado being yet another community to be "scarred by gun violence", the victims and their families go without notice.

The ten victims that lost their lives Monday afternoon, including Boulder police officer, Eric Talley, 61, were identified as; Denny Strong,20, Neven Stanisic, 23, Rikki Olds, 25, Tralona Bartkowiak, 49, Suzanne Fountain, 59, Kevin Mahoney, 61, Lynn Murray, 62, and Jody Waters, 65.

Following new developments coming from Boulder officials, Colorado Attorney General, Phil Weiser, expressed sadness and anger, but he was nonetheless “thankful for brave law enforcement officials and first responders.” Weiser informed the city of Boulder that leadership is “standing ready and is committed to helping in any way that is useful.”