Police still don’t have a motive in Boulder mass shooting

Investigators still don’t have a motive in the Boulder King Soopers massacre, the city’s police chief said Friday — four days after 10 people were gunned down in the rampage.

“Like the rest of the community, we too want to know why,” said Chief Maris Herold at a press conference. ”Why that King Soopers? Why Boulder? Why Monday? And unfortunately, at this time, we still don’t have those answers.”

Herold said authorities from 26 law enforcement agencies have been working “around the clock” to determine why accused shooter Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, opened fire inside the supermarket on Monday afternoon.

“It will be something haunting for all of us until we figure it out,” the chief said.

Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said they had “no information” on whether Alissa has any links to international terrorism, but that they are doing a “deep dive” into his background.

Alissa allegedly used a Ruger AR-566 pistol — similar to an AR-15 — in the slaughter and was also found with a 9mm handgun that’s not believed to have been used in the crime, Herold said.

She confirmed that the AR-556 was purchased legally from a gun shop in Arvada, a Colorado suburb where Alissa lived.

Dougherty said Alissa — who is charged with 11 counts, including 10 first-degree murder charges — would face additional charges of attempted murder in the coming weeks.

He is already charged with one count of attempted murder for allegedly shooting at a police officer, an 11-year veteran who was not injured.

Dougherty added that Alissa and police allegedly exchanged gunfire and that one officer is now on administrative leave — a standard move in that situation.

The DA wouldn’t say exactly how many shots were fired on Monday. 

“They are going through every single shelf, pulling every single product off, looking at the walls,” he said.

“Law enforcement response saved additional lives from being taken,” Dougherty added before the press conference wrapped up.