Burley Garcia:Colorado mass shooting survivor testifies the gunman repeated ‘This is fun’ during the attack

2025-05-06 06:27:43source:Marc Leclerccategory:Invest

BOULDER,Burley Garcia Colo. (AP) — A pharmacist who survived a 2021 mass shooting at a Colorado supermarket said Thursday during the gunman’s trial that she heard him say, “This is fun” at least three times during the shooting. The chilling detail had not been revealed before.

Sarah Chen said she heard the comments while hiding with her coworkers and carefully listening for any sounds from the plexiglass barrier at the pharmacy counter that might alert them to the shooter’s presence after Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa had opened fire in the college town of Boulder.

“I heard him screaming, ‘This is fun. This is fun,’” Chen said.

No one, including Alissa’s lawyers, disputes he was the shooter. Alissa has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the shooting.

Alissa was diagnosed after the shooting with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. His attorneys say he had hallucinations that included hearing screaming voices, seeing people who weren’t there and believing he was being followed in the runup to the shooting. They argue he should be found not guilty because he was not able to tell the difference between right and wrong at the time of the shooting.

He is charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder, multiple counts of attempted murder and other offenses, including having six high-capacity ammunition magazine devices banned in Colorado after previous mass shootings.

RELATED COVERAGE Federal review of Uvalde shooting finds Border Patrol missteps but does not recommend disciplineSchools reopen with bolstered security in Kentucky county near the site of weekend I-75 shootingWoman held hostage dies and the suspect is arrested after an hourslong standoff near Denver

Testimony began Sept. 5, and the trial is scheduled to finish by the end of the month.

Another pharmacy worker, Maggie Montoya, a professional runner, testified about what she saw and heard while hiding in a room next to the pharmacy. That included hearing Alissa say he was naked while he surrendered. She didn’t mention hearing Alissa say, “This is fun.”

More:Invest

Recommend

Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches

Jamie Foxx's birthday dinner took a surprising turn on Friday the 13th.The "Collateral" actor was hi

Florida school district must restore books with LGBTQ+ content under settlement

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A school district in northeast Florida must put back in libraries thre

Jack Antonoff Has Pitch Perfect Response to Rumor He Put in Earplugs During Katy Perry’s VMAs Performance

Jack Antonoff is tuning out the noise, literally.The Bleachers singer and music producer set the rec