‘They walk with you’: Boulder mass shooting survivor speaks before testimony

BOULDER, Colo. (KDVR) — Logan Smith was working the day of the mass shooting at a Boulder King Soopers and called 911 as shots were being fired.

Smith lost three friends that day and testified on Thursday as the mass shooter’s trial gets underway . In an interview with FOX31, Smith said he hopes sharing his account helps bring their killer to justice.

“Where I saw two individuals get gunned down in the back, one of them bringing his shopping cart inside, and another lady running away in panic,” Smith said.

On March 22, 2021, Smith saw the shooter as he made his way from the parking lot of the King Soopers on Table Mesa Drive to the store. Smith raced inside.

“I grabbed the phone, called 911, and as soon as the operator picks up, the shooting begins inside,” Smith said.

Smith shared those details in a Boulder County courtroom on Thursday.

Smith described the last nearly three and a half years as exhausting. The trial has been delayed because experts repeatedly found the shooter was not able to understand legal proceedings and help his defense.

But after treatment, a judge ruled last October the shooter was competent to stand trial.

“It’s definitely a relief getting to this point, and things finally picking up traction,” Smith said.

‘They are on your shoulders. They walk with you’

Smith sometimes wondered if this day would come but said he would be ready to recount his experience when called to do so.

“It’s not something that happened to me. It’s something that happened to my community. It’s something that resulted in the death of three of my friends, and I’ve been carrying that,” Smith said.

When he’s on the stand, Smith said the three friends he lost that fateful spring day would be on his mind: Rikki Olds, Teri Leiker and Denny Stong.

“In a situation like this, they are on your shoulders. They walk with you,” Smith said.

Smith moved away from Colorado after the shooting to get away from the trauma he experienced here. He returned for the trial and plans to stay until it is over.

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