Breaking: Names of victims and suspect released from King Soopers shooting
By Claire Cecere and Lauren Irwin
The Boulder Police Department held a press conference at 8:30 a.m. MST the morning after 10 people were killed in a King Soopers in South Boulder.
Police Chief Maris Herold released the names of the 10 deceased:
- Denny Stong, 20
- Neven Stanisic, 23
- Rikki Olds, 25
- Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
- Teri Leiker, 51
- Officer Eric Talley, 51
- Suzanne Fountain, 59
- Kevin Mahoney, 61
- Lynn Murray, 62
- Jody Waters, 65
Governor and former Boulder resident, Jared Polis and Congressman Joe Neguse were at the press conference to speak on the mass shooting.
“Of course I’m standing here, not just as governor, but as someone who has called this community my home for most of my whole life and who has shopped at that King Soopers in Table Mesa many times across my life,” Polis said.
Neguse notes Officer Eric Talley’s act of heroism and mentions that his heart is heavy.
“We should be able to feel safe in our grocery stores,” Neguse said. “We should be able to feel safe in our schools, in our movie theaters and in our communities. We need to see a change because we have lost far too many lives.”
Officer Talley, who had a career change and joined the department in 2010, was a devoted Boulder resident and police officer, Herold said. He is among 10 victims killed in the grocery store. He leaves behind seven children, his father, Homer Talley said. A massive police procession occurred on Monday night, transporting Talley’s body from the crime scene.
“He took his job as a police officer very seriously,” Homer Talley, said in a statement to ABC News. “He loved his kids and his family more than anything.”
At the press conference, Herold mentioned that the last victim was removed from the scene around 2 a.m. Tuesday morning. All family members of the victims had been notified by 4 a.m.
Rikki Olds, a 25-year-old manager at the grocery store, was among the 10 killed. Her uncle, Bob Olds told CNN, “she was so energetic and charismatic and she was a shining light in this dark world.”
Teri Leiker, a 51-year-old employee also was killed. Lexi Knutson, a CU Boulder alumna posted that, “Teri was the most selfless, innocent, amazing person. To think Teri was murdered while simply doing her job angers me.”
Kevin Mahoney, was one of the victims, he was 61 years old. His daughter, Erika posted on Twitter, “I am heartbroken to announce that my Dad, my hero was killed. My Dad represents all things love. I am thankful he could walk me down the aisle last summer.”
The shooting has gained local and national news coverage. At 11 a.m. President Biden addressed the nation. He called for background checks and gun control as the American flags have returned to half mast after a mass shooting in Atlanta, Georgia, less than a week prior.
Boulder Police Department also released information about the suspect. Once he is released from the hospital, recovering from a leg injury, Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, of Arvada, will be taken to the Boulder County Jail.
The charges against Alissa are 10 counts of murder in the first degree.
This story and investigation is ongoing and will be updated as more information is released.
