Boulder King Soopers shooting suspect denied second competency evaluation

A judge has set a date for a preliminary hearing for the Boulder King Soopers shooting suspect. This happened Tuesday, less than a week after he was found competent to stand trial. 

The Department of Human Services made the competency ruling last week, stating Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa is able to participate in his defense. 

Ten people were killed when a gunman opened fire inside the King Soopers on South Table Mesa Drive in March 2021. He killed customers, workers and a police officer who tried to stop the attack. He surrendered after another officer shot and wounded him, according to authorities.  

The preliminary hearing date has been set for Nov. 14. The suspect had been found incompetent to stand trial several times. 

The judge also set a "competency restoration hearing" date for Oct. 3. She denied a second competency evaluation for the suspect.   

Competency is a different legal issue than a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, which involves whether someone's mental health prevented them from understanding right from wrong when a crime was committed. The suspect remains in custody without bond. 

Killed in the attack were Rikki Olds, Denny Stong, Neven Stanisic, Tralona Bartkowiak, Teri Leiker, Suzanne Fountain, Kevin Mahoney, Lynn Murray, Jody Waters and Eric Talley, who rushed into the store with an initial team of police officers.

The suspect lived in nearby Arvada, where authorities say he passed a background check to legally buy the Ruger AR-556 pistol six days before authorities say he used it in the shooting.

Family members of victims were in the courtroom on Tuesday.