On Jan. 21, the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office gathered in a training room of the Boulder County Justice Center in Boulder for their monthly staff meeting. While the gathering was held four months after the Boulder King Soopers mass shooter, Ahmad Alissa, was found guilty on all counts in the murders of 10 people, District Attorney Michael Dougherty announced the event marked the end of the prosecution in the case.

The meeting opened with Dougherty awarding multiple individuals and parties awards for their help through the aftermath of the shooting. Each recipient was recognized in front of the office staff, before walking up and accepting their award.

“Today’s a really special day because we have an opportunity to close the chapter on the prosecution in the King Soopers case,” Dougherty said.

“We could not do that without thanking the people in this office and also in the community who contributed so much of their time, energy, resources to help us get through the trial, reach the right verdict, hold the defendant fully responsible and also support the victims and family members along the way.”

‘I Love LEOs’

Gil Gilmore, 13, was the first to be recognized during the ceremony. The Niwot resident founded a non-profit organization called I Love LEOs which stands for “I love Law Enforcement Officers.” The organization is aimed at supporting law enforcement and bridging the gap between law enforcement and the community, Gil said.During the ceremony, Dougherty said the day after the shooting he was leaving the Boulder Police Department when he was approached by Gilmore, who was 9 years old at the time, and was asked to promise he was going to pursue justice in the case.

“Gil and his mom did more than just ask me to help secure justice. They did everything they could to support people along the way,” Dougherty said in the meeting.

In the two months following the shooting, Gil and his mother stood outside the Boulder police department for at least an hour a day with signs of encouragement. Then, they visited the department weekly for the year after.

“We provided food during the trial and we’ve supported the victims and family of the victims and law enforcement all throughout it,” Gil said. “During the first bit of time, it was my birthday right after the trial so I told people that instead of gifts, I wanted to raise money for the victims.”

Dougherty said while the case was languishing through delays stemming from legal sparring over the state of the defendant’s mental health, Gil sent him a card.

“The card said, ‘Don’t forget the promise you made’,” Dougherty said. “Oh God, this kid. I felt inspired, we felt inspired and motivated to keep pushing on.”

Gil’s mother, Susan Gilmore, attended the trial every day to support the victims’ families. Gil also donated food and beverages to those directly affected by the caseduring the trial, using money he had saved up from a lemonade stand. In total, Gil has directly donated approximately $8,000.

“The impact Gil has had on the Boulder Police Department is quite profound and extraordinarily beautiful and just shows the beauty through tragedy,” Susan Gilmore said. “It’s pretty amazing; the sacrifice he’s made to lift up other people who are suffering.”

‘We want to be present for you guys’

Dougherty said throughout the trial there were buffets, drinks and snacks provided to the victims’ families. In addition to donations from Gil, food from numerous Boulder area restaurants and stores was provided, including from King Soopers.

“It’s pretty incredible what support King Soopers provided at a time when they were struggling with the loss of their staff, their team, their family and also to their store,” Dougherty said.

Dougherty thanked the staff of King Soopers and said they have gone above and beyond since day one. Dougherty said the staff led therapeutic walkthroughs in the days following the shooting, held memorial events at the store, organized the reopening event at the store, and donated pallets of food and drink during the trial.

“Everything we did was guided through the great help of your office,” King Soopers Human Resources Leader Athar Bilgrami said during the meeting. “I also want to thank Mental Health Partners for the support they provided.

“But everything we did as a community, we obviously want to be a part of this community right, we want to be present for you guys with whatever we have. This team has really owned the entirety of it. So, I want to thank them publicly as well.”

‘Watching people’s resiliency and grace and dignity has been amazing’

Kate Parker is the Executive Vice President of Specialty Behavioral Health at Clinica Family Health and Wellness. She took on the position March 1, 2021, just weeks before the mass shooting occurred. The team, which was previously Mental Health Partners, has since provided services through their brick-and-mortar Boulder Strong Resource Center.

During the trial, the teams at the resource center and the Clinica Family Health and Wellness coordinated all the food and refreshments, had therapists available, helped victims’ families receive acudetox and massages, helped them put together victim impact statements, and facilitated the livestream at the resource center in case anyone wanted to watch the trial, but not be in the courtroom.

“It’s an amazing honor to get to know the victims and get to know the people that we’ve lost through a different lens, not just in light of the shooting,” Parker said. “Watching people’s resiliency and grace and dignity has been amazing.”

Parker received the recognition on behalf of the staff during the meeting.

“For all of our staff and how much they did and how they went above and beyond, this isn’t a part of their normal job. The folks that were supporting the trial were some of our therapists and managers. They have a day job. They went above and beyond,” Parker said. “They did that every day. So for them to get recognition means a lot.”

While Parker said the Boulder Strong Resource Center brick and mortar is sunsetting on April 25, the support will continue to be there for the community.

“We are going to continue to be there and support in the years to come,” Parker said. “Whether it’s remembrance day or additional trials or court proceedings that happen.”

Other recognized groups and people included; the city of Boulder; Boulder Police Department; Boulder County; Gondolier; Abo’s Pizza; Cosmo’s Pizza; High Country Bank; Salad Collective, Mad Greens, Tokyo Joe’s; Niwot Market; Big Red F Restaurant, Post Chicken, West End Tavern; Qdoba; Snarfs; Katharina Booth; University of Colorado Boulder; Colorado Organization of Victim Assistance; Colorado Division of Criminal Justice; Executive Director of Colorado Association of Health Plans Kevin McFathridge; U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse and his staff.