Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, the man who shot and killed ten people at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado yesterday, purchased an assault-style rifle, an AR 556 semi-automatic, high-velocity long gun, just six days ago, law enforcement officials said according to the Associated Press.
Investigators have found no evidence that the attack was tied to international terrorism or a hate crime, with family members telling police that Alissa was mentally disturbed and suffered from extreme paranoia, telling family people were following him.
Colorado has lax laws for purchasing a long gun, with purchasers typically able to walk out of the store with a weapon on the same trip they ask for one. It also allows people to openly carry all types of legal firearms. Boulder had recently passed a ban on carrying assault weapons, but that ban was overturned by a state court just 10 days ago, a decision cheered by the National Rifle Association.