DENVER (AP) — Lawyers for a man accused of killing 10 people in a Colorado supermarket in 2021 confirm he suffers from schizophrenia, with an expert finding he was “verging on catatonia” before he was transferred to a state hospital for care .
Defense information contained in a court filing earlier this month provides the clearest picture yet of the mental health of 23-year-old Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa. District Attorney Michael Dougherty said last month that Alissa was showing symptoms of schizophrenia, a mental disorder that challenges people to grasp reality, but did not elaborate.
In the Feb. 16 brief, Alissa’s attorneys said four psychologists had concluded Alissa had schizophrenia, with an expert selected by prosecutors concluding Alissa was “approaching catatonia” while still in prison. Catatonia can leave people unable to move or speak, they said. The evaluation was done before Alissa was deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial in December 2021 and transferred to the state hospital for treatment. His trial has since been stayed.
Since Alyssa’s transfer, experts have continued to deem him incompetent and unfit to proceed because he is unable to understand legal proceedings and participate in his own defense, his lawyers said. Lawyers also said Alissa suffers from symptoms resistant to drug treatment.
“Mr Alissa still suffers deeply from these symptoms and they limit his ability to interact. She speaks in repetitive, unresponsive responses and cannot tolerate touching others for more than a very short period of time,” they said.
The defense brief was filed in response to the prosecutor’s request to allow another prosecution expert to conduct a different type of evaluation of Alyssa. Dougherty alleges that Alissa refused to participate in some of her hospital care, including talking about the March 22, 2021 shooting and attending group sessions, and sometimes refused one-on-one meetings. He wants Alissa to undergo a forensic neuropsychological evaluation to determine if her refusals are the result of mental illness or a conscious choice not to participate.
Alissa is accused of opening fire outside and inside a King Soopers store in the university town of Boulder, killing customers, workers and a police officer who rushed to try to stop the attack. Alissa, who lived in the nearby suburb of Arvada, surrendered after another officer shot and wounded him, authorities said.
Alissa is charged with murder and attempted multiple murder for endangering the lives of 26 other people. He has not yet been asked to enter a statement and his lawyers have not commented on the allegations.
Prosecutors have not released a possible motive. They said Alissa passed a background check to legally purchase a Ruger AR-556 handgun six days before the shooting.
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