Hero officer Eric Talley killed in Boulder shooting had ‘wanted job off front lines’ as 10 victims named
HERO officer Eric Talley who was killed in the Boulder shooting had "wanted a job off the front lines" as 10 victims are named.
The victims ranged in age from 20 to 65 and Mayor Sam Weaver said the community felt this loss "in our bones."
Weaver described him as a truly heroic public servant and said "we can never thank Officer Talley or his family enough for his sacrifice."
His sister, Kirstin, posted a heartfelt tribute for her officer brother just hours after he died.
"I cannot explain how beautiful he was and what a devastating loss this is to so many. Fly high my sweet brother. You always wanted to be a pilot (damn color blindness). Soar."
Eric's father, Homer Talley, also shared a statement following his son's tragic death.
"We should also ban assault weapons in the process," he added, calling on Congress to act in the wake of such horrific gun violence and describing Talley as a "real American hero."
Law enforcement officials also told the outlet that Ahmad was known by the FBI because he was linked to another individual under investigation by the bureau.
During high school, and feared that someone was "behind him" and "looking for him", his brother revealed.
"When he was having lunch with my sister in a restaurant, he said, 'People are in the parking lot, they are looking for me.' She went out, and there was no one. We didn’t know what was going on in his head," Alissa told the outlet, reportedly admitting that he believes his brother is mentally ill.
The alleged shooter bought an assault rifle six days before opening fire inside a crowded Colorado supermarket, according to an arrest affidavit released on Tuesday.
The suspect's brother told the Beast that his house was searched by authorities following the shooting.
According to a Facebook page, that appeared to be Ahmad's, he was "born in Syria 1999" before he "came to the USA in 2002."
The 21-year-old would post regularly on Facebook, including sharing the hashtag "NeedAGirlfriend" and sharing memes about video games.
He also made a claim that "racist Islamophobic people" were "hacking my phone" and stopping him from having a "normal life."
Ahmad also shared a video that's caption claimed it showed a "corrections officer turn off his body cam before repeatedly punching an inmate with a mental health condition," which he caption: "This is not okay."
His school, Arvada West High School, confirmed to The Sun that Alissa was a student from March 2015 until he graduated in May 2018.
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"Jeffco Public Schools and the Board of Education are saddened by the tragic event that took place in Boulder," the school said.
"We share the heartbreak of the families, coworkers, and friends of the victims and of the Colorado community that again faces another senseless act of violence."