The suspect in a Colorado supermarket shooting on Monday has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder, according to local authorities on Tuesday.
Ten people, including a police officer, were killed Monday afternoon when a gunman opened fire in a Boulder, Colo., grocery store.
The 10 victims, whose names were released at a Tuesday morning news conference, range in age from 20 to 65 and include Eric Talley, 51, an 11-year veteran of the Boulder police force.
Talley was the father of seven children and had recently been looking for a less dangerous job, according to a statement released by his father.
The 21-year-old male suspect, identified as Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, was in stable condition after he was wounded in an exchange of gunfire with police officers at the King Soopers outlet in Boulder, about 45 kilometres northwest of Denver.
According to the arrest affidavit released Tuesday, the suspect purchased the assault weapon on March 16, just six days before the attack.
It was not immediately known where the gun was purchased.
Alissa, who was being treated at the hospital for his injuries, is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.
“My heart aches today,” Governor Jared Polis said at the media conference. “Not only did we lose 10 lives, but this is real horror and terror for all of us.”
Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said investigators have not established a motive, but they believe the suspect in custody was the only shooter.
The shooting in Boulder comes just six days after a gunman went on a killing spree at multiple massage parlors in the Atlanta area leaving eight dead.
Police gave an update on the details of how the shooting at the King Soopers unfolded on Monday.
“Regarding the suspect, at approximately 2:40 P.M. Monday, March 22, officers were dispatched to Kings Soopers. They arrived on the scene within minutes and immediately entered the store and engaged the suspect,” Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said.
“There was an exchange of gunfire. The suspect was shot and a number of other officers were injured.”
Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden called on Congress to tighten the gun laws across the country.
“Ten lives have been lost, and more families have been shattered by gun violence in the state of Colorado,” he said.
The president ordered flags nationwide to be lowered in memory of the victims.
In a statement released Tuesday, former U.S. president Barack Obama said he and former first lady Michelle Obama are grieving with the families of the victims.
However, in addition to grief, Obama said they are “also feeling a deep, familiar outrage that we as a nation continue to tolerate these kinds of random, senseless acts day in and day out without taking significant action.”
“It is long past time for those with the power to fight this epidemic of gun violence to do so,” he said. “It will take time to root out the disaffection, racism, and misogyny that fuels so many of these senseless acts of violence.
“But we can make it harder for those with hate in their hearts to buy weapons of war.”
— With files from Global News’ Hannah Jackson, The Associated Press and Reuters
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