King Soopers shooting suspect’s mother testifies on son’s deteriorating mental condition

BOULDER, Colo. ( KDVR ) — For months, Ahmad Alissa acted strangely at his home, according to court testimony, before he would go on to kill 10 people at the Boulder King Soopers in 2021.

“He would stay by himself. He’s sick. He got crazy. The symptoms got worse during COVID,” his mother testified in court Monday through an interpreter.

Earlier, forensic psychologist Loandra Torres told the jury what Alissa said about the mass shooting as she tried to determine his mental state. Torres said the 25-year-old shooter from Arvada felt “blank” after killing 10 people at the King Soopers in March of 2021.

“To me, that’s a symptom of his mental illness,” Torres said.

Alissa has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. State prosecutors argue that while Alissa was suffering from schizophrenia, he still knew right from wrong.

Torres and another forensic psychologist determined he was sane on the day of the shooting.

“One thing that he did tell us, he did indicate that he would rather die than go to jail,” Torres said.

Prosecutors rested their case against Alissa on Monday after days of testimony. Defense attorneys unsuccessfully asked for an acquittal.

A psychiatrist, Dr. Hareesh Pillai, who treated Alissa at the state hospital, was the defense’s first witness. Pillai said he noticed Alissa experiencing severe symptoms of schizophrenia.

“The main symptom that I can recall from when I first met Mr. Alissa was he presented with something he called thought blocking,” Pillai said.

Pillai said he prescribed stronger anti-psychotic medication for Alissa as he continued to experience more bouts with his mental illness.

The trial is expected to last through next week.

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