Ten killed in mass shooting at Colorado grocery store

By News desk

BOULDER, USA: A gunman killed at least 10 people including a police officer at a grocery store in Colorado on Monday, police said, in the latest shooting to hit a state that was the site of two of the most infamous mass murders in US history. Witnesses at the King Soopers supermarket in Boulder County, 30 miles northwest of the state capital Denver, said they initially heard multiple loud bangs outside the shop. Nevin Sloan, who narrowly escaped with his wife Quinlan, said panic then set in as the sound of gunshots drew closer and shoppers were forced to decide whether to stay put or make a break for the exit.

"All of a sudden we started hearing more, like ´bang, bang, bang, bang´ and I sprinted over to her and just told her ´hey we need to get out of here´," he said, adding that they had helped others flee through an emergency exit.

"I just nearly got killed for getting a soda and a bag of chips," Ryan Borowski, who was in the store when he heard at least eight gunshots, said.

According to international media reports, police chief Maris Herold said 10 people were killed, including officer Eric Talley, 51, who was first on the scene, paying tribute to his "heroic" colleague.

The 21-year-old arrested suspect faces 10 counts of murder in the first degree, police said Tuesday. Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, of Arvada, near Denver, is accused of opening the fire.

Police took the suspect into custody at the store, less than an hour after panicked 911 callers told dispatchers of the killings unfolding there.

lissa, who at some point was shot in the leg Monday, was booked Tuesday into county jail after being treated at a hospital, authorities said.

The motive in the Boulder killings isn't immediately known, and the investigation will take a long time, authorities said. Still, investigators believe he was the only perpetrator, they said.

Officers had exchanged gunfire with Alissa at the store, but it wasn't clear who shot him, Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said.