Emotional testimony continues in trial of man who killed 10 at King Soopers

BOULDER, Colo. (KDVR) — A man who was shopping with his mother when a shooter went on a rampage at a King Soopers grocery store wiped away tears as he testified in the gunman’s trial on Monday.

Nicholas Edwards said bullets were whizzing by his head, and his mother tried to escape that day in March 2021.

“I locked up. I’m pretty sure there were gunshots in my direction,” Edwards said.

Edwards said he could smell gunpowder as the gunman fired.

Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, of Arvada, killed 10 people at the store and faces 10 counts of first-degree murder, multiple counts of attempted murder and other offenses. Investigators said some of the victims were shot multiple times.

Paul Johnson, who was working at the store, talked about the moment he realized shots were being fired in the store.

“In my memory, I immediately run straight to the back of the store. I think we were screaming, run!” Johnson said.

‘Active shooter, active shooter, get out, active shooter!’

Another King Soopers worker, Christopher Tatum, told the jury he was working in the deli and tried to help people get to safety.

“I put out a page on the phone: active shooter, active shooter, get out, active shooter!” Tatum said.

Boulder Police Department investigator Sarah Cantu watched hours and hours of surveillance videos and described some of the things the shooter did. Cantu said Alissa quickly removed a magazine from his gun and installed another one with more bullets.

Alissa, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

The Boulder County district attorney argues Alissa was sane and knew right from wrong that day.

The trial is expected to last another two weeks.

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