Local officials react to mass shooting at Colorado grocery store

PITTSBURGH — Police departments, law enforcement agencies and other officials from around western Pennsylvania are starting to react to the mass shooting at a grocery store in Colorado.

Investigators said at least 10 people were killed, including an officer, at King Soopers -- a supermarket chain owned by Kroger that is located in Boulder.

Boulder police Chief Maris Herold announced the death toll at a news conference Monday night, fighting back tears.

The officer who was killed was Eric Talley, 51, who had been with Boulder police since 2010, Herold said. The other 9 victims have all been identified, Boulder police said.

Police on Tuesday identified a 21-year-old man, Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, as the suspect. He is from the Denver suburb of Arvada, and he engaged in a shootout with police inside the Boulder store. He was being treated at a hospital and was expected to be booked into the county jail later in the day.

>> Read the latest on the mass shooting HERE.

Governor Tom Wolf released a statement on Wednesday calling for a reduction in gun violence.

“Once again, our nation has experienced the trauma and heartbreak of a mass shooting. These senseless acts of violence are not who we are as a country and too many families and communities are being devastated by gun violence. The violence in Colorado that took 10 lives followed horrible gun violence that claimed eight people last week in Georgia. This cannot and will not be tolerated. Today, as we think of the victims in Boulder and their families, I encourage all Pennsylvanians to remain united and stand strong in our commitment to peace and hope.

“We cannot stand by and let the false narrative that there’s nothing we can do to prevent gun violence continue. Yesterday I stood with advocates in Pennsylvania to call for common sense changes to our laws to reduce gun violence and protect our communities and our families. We need to take action and make those changes now, before more lives are lost.”

Channel 11 reached out to the Tree of Life for their reaction to the mass shooting in Colorado. On October 27, 2018, a shooter walked into the Tree of Life Synagogue and opened fire killing 11 people.

The congregation released the following statement:

“We send our condolences to the loved ones of the ten people killed last night in Boulder, Colorado. We know all too well the far-reaching impact of senseless violence that not only robs us of loved ones, but also our sense of security when it occurs in our community, in places we know like the back of our hand. We grieve the loss of life, and pray that those who mourn will be comforted. May the memories of those lost be a blessing.”

Others across the area are also reacting to the tragedy. The Allegheny County District Attorney’s office offered condolences to the victims and their families.

NOTE: The Associated Press contributed information to this report.