Colorado attack survivor verbally conveys that the assailant expressed enjoyment multiple times, stating "This is enjoyable," throughout the violent incident.
Boulder, Colorado (AP) – A pharmacist who managed to survive the 2021 mass shooting at a Colorado supermarket revealed during the gunman's trial that she heard him utter "This is thrilling," at least three times during the shooting. This grim detail had been kept under wraps before now.
Pharmacist Sarah Chen shared this chilling account while hiding alongside her colleagues, tuning in meticulously for any sounds coming from the pharmacy counter's plexiglass barrier, which could have signaled the shooter's approach after Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa had unleashed his shots in the college town of Boulder.
"I could make out him yelling, 'This is thrilling. This is thrilling,'" Chen stated.
There's been no disagreement from Alissa's defense team or anyone else that he was the one responsible for the shooting. Alissa has pleaded not guilty due to insanity in regard to the shooting.
Alissa was diagnosed with untreatable schizophrenia following the shooting. His legal team claims he experienced hallucinations, which included hearing abusive voices, perceiving people who weren't actually there, and believing he was being pursued before the shooting took place. They argue that this mental state rendered him incapable of distinguishing right from wrong at the time of the incident.
Alissa faces charges involving 10 counts of first-degree murder, numerous attempts at murder, and various other offenses, including possessing six high-capacity ammunition magazines, which were banned in Colorado after previous mass shootings.
Trials commenced on September 5, and the proceedings are expected to wrap up by the end of this month.
Another pharmacy employee, Maggie Montoya, testified about her testimony regarding what she heard and saw while concealing herself in a room adjacent to the pharmacy. This included listening to Alissa announce that he was naked while surrendering.
"During the trial, the prosecution emphasized the impact the shooting had on the community, including how it affected us all deeply."
"When the verdict was announced, the courtroom was filled with a mix of emotions among the family members of the victims and us, the witnesses and survivors."
