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Grocery Store Shooting: Officer Eric Talley Was Killed Within Seconds Of Entering King Soopers In Boulder

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) -- Officer Eric Talley was killed within seconds of entering the King Soopers store in Boulder on March 22, the district attorney said during a news conference on Thursday. Talley entered the store with two other officers. District Attorney Michael Dougherty said additional police officers, a deputy and an open space ranger all tried to enter the store less than 30 seconds later.

Gunman Opens Fires At Grocery Store In Boulder, Colorado
BOULDER, CO - MARCH 22: Tactical police units respond to the scene of a King Soopers grocery store after a shooting on March 22, 2021 in Boulder, Colorado. Dozens of police responded to the afternoon shooting in which at least one witness described three people who appeared to be wounded, according to published reports. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images)

"Boulder police officers, the open space ranger the sheriff's deputy all bravely and courageously tried to get into the store as soon as they possibly could, and there was less than 30 seconds after officer Tally was killed," Dougherty said.

The two officers who went in with Talley were identified as Officer Bryan Capobianco and Officer Pam Gignac.

The "second wave" of responders who Officer Richard Steidell, Officer Bryan Plyter, Officer Alexander Kicera, Officer Jenny Schmeits, Officer D.J. (Richard) Smith, Officer Brandon Braun, Officer Michael West, Deputy Jeffrey Brunkow, and Ranger Samuel Kilburn.

Investigators say the suspect, Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, opened fire in the store in the middle of the day, killing 10 people.

Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa (also known as Ahmad Al-Issa)
(credit: CBS)

On Thursday, we learned there were 115 people inside the store at the time of the shooting and another 25 people in the parking lot.

We also learned on Thursday that an officer fired seven times at the suspect, striking him once in the leg.

Dougherty said there is still no clear motive for the shooting.

Alissa was initially charged with 10 counts of first degree murder, one count for each victim: 20-year-old Denny Stong; 23-year-old Neven Stanisic; 25-year-old Rikki Olds; 49-year-old Tralona Bartkowiak; 51-year-old Teri Leiker; 51-year-old Eric Talley; 59-year-old Suzanne Fountain; 61-year-old Kevin Mahoney; 62-year-old Lynn Murray; and 65-year-old Jody Waters.

On Wednesday, Prosecutors announced plans to file 43 additional charges against the suspect. The new charges include 20 counts of attempted murder for other victims in the store and in the parking lot and 10 counts of having a prohibited large capacity magazine.

Alissa is in police custody at an undisclosed location after receiving death threats while at the Boulder County jail.

His next court date is May 25 for a status conference. Dougherty said he did not expect there would be any other developments before then.

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