BOULDER, Colo. — Representatives from King Soopers and the City of Boulder announced the store located at Table Mesa Drive where 10 people were killed in a mass shooting on March 22 will be renovated and reopen.
Jessica Trowbridge, corporate affairs manager for King Soopers, said the company is working with the city to expedite the redesigning and opening of the store, which is currently expected to happen in the late fall.
"The atrocity perpetrated two months ago still weighs heavily on Boulder, and this announcement launches a critical next phase in our shared healing process," Boulder Mayor Sam Weaver said. "The revitalization and reopening of this store sends a clear message that we will not be bowed by our recent tragedy."
Deputy City Manager Chris Meschuk said that city employees have been assigned to work with King Soopers to expedite the construction process including the granting of permits and approval of plans.
Meschuk said that plans for a permanent 'Boulder Strong' memorial are in the very early stages and will likely take years to plan and complete. Members of the community will be invited to participate in the process in the future.
In addition, Weaver said the city is partnering with the Museum of Boulder to document and preserve the public memorial that has developed outside of the store.
The memorial is currently being maintained by museum staff. After Memorial Day, staff will begin removing items from the temporary fence. The museum will gather them for cleaning and prepare them for preservation.
Museum officials will also consult with the victims' families to decide the best home for items. Possible options include adding them to the museum's permanent collection, or digitizing and documenting them and providing safe storage.
"Every flower, note and totem left there reminds us that loves triumphs over violence," Weaver said. "The museum will hold these items in the public trust, acting as the protectors of these stories for the future."
>Video below: The City of Boulder and King Soopers officials full news conference on the announcement of what's next for the Table Mesa store.
Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 22, was arrested at the scene and now faces 54 charges in connection to the shooting.
He had previously faced 10 counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. Prosecutors filed a motion to amend the charging document last month and it now has a total of 54 charges, which include the following:
- 10 counts of first-degree murder
- 33 counts of attempted first-degree murder
- One count of first-degree assault
- 10 counts of using a prohibited large capacity magazine during a crime
According to Boulder's police chief, no motive has been determined for the shooting; however, NBC News reports that several law enforcement officials said Alissa appears to have a history of mental health problems, which may have been a significant factor in the shooting. Those same officials said, according to NBC, that "there is not, at this point, evidence that the shooting was not an act of terrorism or a hate crime."
Below is a list of the victims:
- Neven Stanisic, 23
- Kevin Mahoney, 61
- Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
- Rikki Olds, 25
- Denny Stong, 20
- Lynn Murray, 62
- Teri Leiker, 51
- Jody Waters, 65
- Suzanne Fountain, 59
- Eric Talley, 51
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