Ahmad Alissa was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for each of 10 murder victims Monday afternoon after being found guilty on all 55 counts against him for the King Soopers shooting three years ago. Immediately after his conviction, he was led out of the courtroom dressed in civilian clothing. When he returned, he was dressed in an orange and white striped jail outfit and listened, often looking to the podium where the victims' friends and family members spoke about the impact of his decision to commit a mass murder in a crowded place on a sleepy Monday afternoon that March.
Dozens of them had stories for 20th Judicial District Ingrid Bakke during the trial's sentencing phase. Some expressed forgiveness. Others were perplexed that the gunman never expressed remorse for the lives he took.
“How about sorry? Where is the apology? An iota of remorse would have gone a long way,” said Kevin Mahoney’s daughter, Erika Mahoney. “If you would have driven into the parking lot and said, 'I need help,' my father would have been the first one to help you.” She was six months pregnant when her father was killed.
On Boulder Police officer Eric Talley’s last day, he was complaining to his mom, Judy, about how Dr. Seuss’s books were being banned and how he couldn’t get a McDonald’s spicy chicken sandwich. But he had to get off of the phone.
“Mom, I'm dispatched. I gotta go,” he had said. “Be careful,” she had replied.
Like some of the other.