BOULDER, Colo. — Elan Shakti, 79, faced a harrowing experience while shopping for a grieving family during a supermarket visit in March 2021. Despite her fatigue and recent heart diagnosis, she used a shopping cart for support, but soon found herself on the floor of the store as gunfire erupted.
Shakti testified at the trial of the accused shooter, Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, who faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and additional charges related to the tragic event that claimed ten lives in Boulder. Alissa, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, is confirmed by all parties as the individual responsible for the shooting.
During her testimony, Shakti recounted a deli employee’s urgent warning to escape. Aware of her limitations, she abandoned her cart in a desperate attempt to flee, but fell near the entrance and found herself unable to move. “I said, ‘God, I hope you’re ready for me because I think this is it,’” she recalled, praying to avoid being trampled as chaos ensued around her.
Shakti described hearing continued gunfire and fearing the worst until a worker rescued her and brought her to safety. Unfortunately, she later learned she suffered a broken vertebra.
Witnesses, including Sarah Moonshadow, also shared their terrifying experiences. Moonshadow recounted rushing to buy strawberries and tea at the self-checkout with her son when the shooting began. She advised her son to wait for a moment when the gunman might be reloading, then they ducked down as shots rang out and chaos overwhelmed the store.
As Alissa attempted to aim his weapon towards them, Moonshadow instructed her son to run, navigating unpredictably to avoid being struck.
The ongoing trial has revealed alarming details about how Alissa targeted individuals in motion during the incident, creating a chilling narrative of fear and survival.
