CO - Mass shooting at King Soopers, 10 fatalities including 1 LEO, Boulder, 22 Mar 2021 *arrest*

[SuziQ]

How did he get a gun?

I'm still catching up on this thread, so I don't think we know the gun details yet. But I am not seeing any reason he would not be able to by one legally. Sad to say, gun laws don't prevent anyone from getting one illegally because criminals are not law abiding to begin with.. There are only a couple of cases, that I am aware of, that gun laws would have stopped mass shootings. San Bernardino is one and the Texas church shooting where the military didn't file paperwork that would have prevented the shooter from buying a gun legally. Emphasis on legally. He could have still gotten a gun illegally or used another method to kill people. There isn't an easy answer.

 

[303gmf]

https://www.thedenverchannel.com/ne...-says-he-bought-weapon-6-days-before-shooting

March 23, 2021

Police released the affidavit just before 11 a.m. Tuesday. The five-page document describes some of the calls made to dispatch, how Alissa was taken in to custody, and an interview with a family member of his in Arvada.

https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com...idavit-for-arrest-warrant-alissa-redacted.pdf

Interesting reading, noting he was born just a few days before the tragic Columbine High School murders in Littleton

 

[IceIce9]

In AZ, not sure if it's the same for other states, family members can petition the court to keep their loved one in a mental hospital. You may need to petition over and over but it's possible to have them kept longer than 72 hours.

We petitioned the court here, but since she was able to answer a few basic questions and deny her actions it did not work.

 

[GatorFL]

Interesting reading, noting he was born just a few days before the tragic Columbine High School murders in Littleton

Wow. It seems so recent but it was a long time ago.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

It's almost impossible to have an adult admitted against their will for treatment whether it's because of mental health issues or because they are an alcoholic or drug addict unable to care for themselves being a danger to themselves much less proving they are a danger to others before they even do anything.

My dad was a full blown alcoholic. When he finally got his first DUI at 69 I got the court to Baker Act him for 72 hours then he was allowed to leave on his own.

Finally I got our local sheriff, who is a close friend..to come out to dad's home to see him, and his living conditions. At the time he lived alone. He then went to the family law judge telling him he was a danger to himself, and something had to be done.

It was then the judge called me saying I should become his legal guardian. Before that happened it was a long drawn out process.

Taking any adult's freedom away from them is taken seriously by the courts.

But, I have a feeling his motive may have nothing to do with being mentally ill. With him purchasing the pistol beforehand... it shows premeditation, and aforethought/planning before carrying out the mass murders.

Jmho

 

[Inthedetails]

Interesting reading, noting he was born just a few days before the tragic Columbine High School murders in Littleton

I noticed on the affidavit that the officer who completed it has been on the force for 20 years, essentially the lifetime of the perp.

Doesn't mean anything in particular, but I noticed it.

jmo

 

[SuziQ]

https://www.thedenverchannel.com/ne...-says-he-bought-weapon-6-days-before-shooting

March 23, 2021

Police released the affidavit just before 11 a.m. Tuesday. The five-page document describes some of the calls made to dispatch, how Alissa was taken in to custody, and an interview with a family member of his in Arvada.

https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com...idavit-for-arrest-warrant-alissa-redacted.pdf

It doesn't say the disposition of the 2018 assault charge. But it should have prevented a gun purchase. Maybe he plead down to a misdemeanor.

 

[Seattle1]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>

From the AA -- a rifle, possible AR-15, is that not an "assault rifle?" I don't think it clear if the new Ruger purchased by the suspect located at the crime scene.

 

[303gmf]

Wow. It seems so recent but it was a long time ago.

My daughter was in the high school close by, we all knew many students and teachers there. Years of driving by and the memory still can be raw, this reopened it all sadly.

 

[Inthedetails]

It doesn't say the disposition of the 2018 assault charge. But it should have prevented a gun purchase. Maybe he plead down to a misdemeanor.

Do we know the guns were purchased by him? Maybe they belonged to a family member.

(Sorry if this was discussed already, I'm multi-tasking atm and doing a poor job of it.)

jmo

 

[Tippy Lynn]

Arrest Affidavit:
https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com...idavit-for-arrest-warrant-alissa-redacted.pdf

A photograph of the items that the male removed on scene included a green tactical vest, a rifle (possible AR-15), a semiautomatic handgun, a pair of jeans and a dark colored long-sleeved shirt. There was much blood around the items.

Using law enforcement databases, investigators determined that Alissa had purchased a Ruger AR- 556 pistol on March 16, 2021.

 

[CocoChanel]

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[tara83]

I'm not so sure this is about mental illness.Buying the gun 6 days ago makes this sound more planned out.Plus why buy the vest?

 

[Seattle1]

Also, the mandatory background check of the perpetrator for the purchase of a gun, would not have alerted them to the mental health problems, that his family has stated he's had for years.

^^rsbbm
The Colorado background check would not have alerted officials, why? Because mental health questions are not asked on the application? No waiver for release of health info on a gun background check? Can you expand on this, please? Thank you.

ETA: There was nothing in AA by family stating the suspect has had mental health problems for years. I've not read that allegation elsewhere either.

 

[Tippy Lynn]

It doesn't say the disposition of the 2018 assault charge. But it should have prevented a gun purchase. Maybe he plead down to a misdemeanor.

According to the arrest affidavit a criminal history of Alissa shows only a charge for third degree assault out of Arvada in 2018. I don't think that's a felony charge.

Under federal law, people are generally prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms if they have been convicted of a felony or some domestic violence misdemeanors, or if they are subject to certain court orders related to domestic violence or a serious mental condition. However, federal law merely provides a floor, and has notable gaps that allow individuals who have demonstrated significant risk factors for violence or self-harm to legally acquire and possess guns.

 

[Footwarrior]

^^rsbbm
The Colorado background check would not have alerted officials, why? Because mental health questions are not asked on the application? No waiver for release of health info on a gun background check? Can you expand on this, please? Thank you.

Colorado background checks follow the rules in Federal law. Only an involuntary commitment to a mental institution will keep a person from buying a firearm.

 

[SandyQLS]

Ugh good god.
I thought they retracted that it was an assault rifle? Scary stuff, just looking at it makes me cringe
Ruger® AR-556® Pistol Centerfire Pistol Models

It's a semantics game to call this weapon a pistol. It is emphatically NOT for shooting rabbits (would explode). Your link provides the specs - see "NATO 5.56". Any weapon that uses NATO 5.56mm rounds is a weapon with the capability of NATO nation military rifles because that is the ammunition for M16, AR15, 223 even a Russian AK47 can fire it. This link explains how manufacturers get around calling this weapon a rifle and are able to classify it as a pistol:
Is The AR-556 Just Another AR-15 (Or Something Much More Powerful?)

This link has a simple photo showing different sizes of cartridges or see Wikipedia - Cartridges (firearms) for even more extensive comparison photos.
What is the best gun for plowing through any bulletproof thing? - Quora

All JMO.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

I'm not so sure this is about mental illness.Buying the gun 6 days ago makes this sound more planned out.Plus why buy the vest?

I will add to that. He had the forethought to undress himself before he turned himself in. He didn’t want to be killed. There was some thought and planning that went into this.

 

[Cryptic]

The Ruger AR-556 can be chambered in .223/5.56. .223 which is much the same as a .22LR caliber bullet.

What you are looking at may appear scary to the untrained eye, but... it's just a rabbit hunting gun.

Are you sure the .223 round is "much the same" as a .22 long rifle bullet?

I could not help but noticing that .223 bullets are significantly larger than my .22 long rifle bullets. The increase in size is also marched by a larger case in the .223 with far more grains of powder. This allows for .223 rounds to keep a high velocity, despite their increased size.

I dont really care if a gun looks "scary" or not.

What I do care about is size / weight of the bullet and the velocity of the bullet. The increased size / weight of the bullet coupled with the retention of high velocity makes .223 rounds very lethal.

From the AA -- a rifle, possible AR-15, is that not an "assault rifle?"

Technically, assault rifles have the ability to fire on full automatic.

Permits for fully automatic weapons are very difficult to obtain. So in all probability, the weapon recovered from the scene was not an "Assault Rifle" in the true sense of the word.

But.... even semi automatic AR 15s and clones can be fired very quickly. Combine that with relatively very little recoil and a rampager can kill ten people very quickly.

 

[Dre]

I think that some people are getting “incompetent” confused with “mentally ill”
Surely we can think of NUMEROUS cases of premeditation perpetrated by very mentally ill people.
I would also argue that walking into a grocery store and murdering people en masse is not a picture of mental health.

can anyone say that a single mass murderer we’ve ever seen has been mentally healthy?

hate, revenge, jealousy, greed can certainly be the motive, but the root of the action is inherently increasingly flawed mental conditions exacerbated by said motives.
hope that made sense.

This was surely premeditated, diabolical and he is competent to stand trial, throw the book at him.

All moo