King Soopers shooting trial: Officers testify on life-threatening moments

The trial of Ahmad Alissa, who admitted to the March 2021 King Soopers shooting, is currently underway, with jurors tasked to determine his mental state during the attack that resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals, including Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley. Officers from Boulder and surrounding areas provided harrowing testimonies about their experiences during the incident, highlighting the life-threatening situations they faced while responding to the shooting. Boulder Police Officer Jenny Schmitz, who was in her first week of field training, recounted the traumatic moment she discovered Officer Talley's body in a pool of blood. Officer Bryan Plyter, part of the second wave of responders, expressed the fear he felt entering the store, contemplating the possibility of not returning home to his child. Ranger Samuel Kilburn described the chaos inside the store, where officers were trying to evacuate terrified individuals while shots were still being fired. The urgency of the situation was palpable, as they were unaware of the shooter's location. Officer Richard Steidell later engaged Alissa, who had pointed his rifle at the officers, leading to Alissa's eventual arrest after Steidell struck him in the leg. Alissa has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and faces multiple charges, including 10 counts of first-degree murder. Prosecutors are working to establish that he was sane at the time of the shooting, which has significant implications for the trial's outcome.