Ahmad Al Aliwi Al‑Issa

Ahmad Al Aliwi Al‑Issa was born on April 17, 1999, in Raqqa, Syria. In 2002, when he was a young child, his family immigrated to the United States. They later settled permanently in Arvada, Colorado, where Al‑Issa spent most of his upbringing and adolescence. He eventually became a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Family members later described Al‑Issa as a troubled and increasingly isolated individual. According to his older brother, Al‑Issa’s behavior began to noticeably deteriorate during his teenage years, particularly after he was bullied in high school. He reportedly developed paranoid beliefs, frequently expressing the idea that people were watching him, mocking him, or targeting him unfairly. 

Al‑Issa attended Arvada West High School, where he struggled socially. In 2018, he was convicted of misdemeanor assault after punching a classmate during an altercation. He pleaded guilty to the charge, received one year of probation, and was ordered to complete 48 hours of community service. 

In the years leading up to the attack, Al‑Issa frequently expressed grievances about discrimination and harassment, particularly on social media. He stated that he believed he was being targeted because of his background and religion. However, federal investigators later confirmed that his online activity showed no evidence of extremist ideology, political radicalization, or terrorist affiliation.

Despite concerns raised by family members regarding his mental health, Al‑Issa was able to legally purchase firearms. Shortly before the shooting, he acquired a semi‑automatic Ruger AR‑556 pistol, an AR‑15–style firearm.

On the afternoon of March 22, 2021, Ahmad Al Aliwi Al‑Issa carried out a mass shooting at a King Soopers supermarket located on Table Mesa Drive in Boulder, Colorado. The attack began shortly after 2:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time.

Al‑Issa first entered the parking lot of the supermarket and began firing at people outside the building. His first confirmed victim was Neven Stanišić (23), a repairman seated inside a van near the gunman’s vehicle. As panic spread, Al‑Issa shot and killed additional victims who attempted to flee across the parking area.

He then moved toward the eastern entrance of the store, killing two more individuals as he entered. Inside, the store was busy with customers and employees, including individuals waiting at the pharmacy for COVID‑19 vaccinations. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as shoppers fled, hid in storage rooms, or barricaded themselves in closets and offices. Some employees and customers assisted others in escaping through a rear exit, actions later praised by authorities.

At 2:33 p.m., the Boulder Police Department began receiving emergency calls reporting an active shooter armed with a rifle. Officers arrived within minutes. Among the first responders was Officer Eric Talley (51), a veteran of the Boulder Police Department who had served since 2010 and was the father of seven children. Talley entered the store and was fatally shot by Al‑Issa, becoming the final victim of the attack.

Additional officers and tactical units quickly surrounded the store. An armored police vehicle was used to break through the front windows, and officers engaged the gunman intermittently while ordering him to surrender. The standoff lasted approximately 40 minutes. During this time, witnesses reported hearing sporadic gunfire, alarms, and store music continuing to play over the loudspeakers.

At approximately 3:22 p.m., a coordinated team of officers reentered the store, fearing the possibility of an ambush. Within seconds, Al‑Issa fired at officers again. One officer returned fire, striking Al‑Issa in the right thigh. Wounded, he surrendered, stating, “I surrender. I’m naked.” At 3:28 p.m., he was taken into custody using Officer Talley’s handcuffs.

Al‑Issa was transported to Boulder Community Health Foothills Hospital for treatment before being moved to the Boulder County Jail, where he was held without bond. Police later confirmed that he had fired 47 rounds during the attack.

The victims included repairman Neven Stanišić (23); grocery manager Rikki Olds (25); store employees Denny Stong (20) and Teri Leiker (51); and customers Tralona Bartkowiak (49), Suzanne Fountain (59), Kevin Mahoney (61), Lynn Murray (62), and Jody Waters (65). Officer Eric Talley (51) was killed while responding to the active shooter situation. These ten individuals were shot and killed in a matter of minutes, with no additional victims fatally wounded after Talley's death.

Aside from Al‑Issa himself, who was wounded by police, the only other injury was a woman who fractured her back while attempting to escape.

After his arrest, Al‑Issa underwent multiple psychological evaluations to determine his fitness for trial. In December 2021 and again in April 2022, he was found mentally incompetent to stand trial and was committed to a mental health facility.

On August 23, 2023, prosecutors announced that Al‑Issa had regained competency. A judge formally ruled him competent to stand trial on October 6, 2023.

On September 23, 2024, Ahmad Al Aliwi Al‑Issa was convicted on all charges related to the shooting. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He is currently serving his sentence in a Colorado state correctional institution.