Psychologists concluded that the suspected gunman in the March grocery store shooting in Boulder, Colo., is not competent to stand trial, according to recently released court documents.
NBC News reported Monday that even though Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa has indicated an understanding of the charges against him, the potential sentencing and the workings of the court, psychologists said their “‘provisional’ mental health diagnosis of Defendant ‘limits his ability to meaningfully converse with others.'”
The court documents stated that Alissa’s “superficial responses” to hypothetical legal situations indicated a “passive approach to his defense” as well as a “potential over-reliance on his attorneys.”
Ten people, including a local police officer, were killed in the shooting at a King Soopers grocery store earlier this year. Reports following the shooting said Alissa had purchased the gun less than a week before the shooting and passed a background check.
Alissa is facing about 50 charges, including 10 counts of first-degree murder and 32 counts of attempted murder in the first degree.
Prosecutors requested a second evaluation of Alissa on Monday, arguing that he has shown “an understanding of his charges, the potential sentence, the roles of the judge, prosecutor and defense attorney,” according to NBC.
Alissa’s defense team objected to the request, NBC reported, but Boulder Chief Judge Ingrid Seftar Bakke granted the additional evaluation. His defense team said in court documents filed last month that he is “incompetent.”