The victim of a 2017 assault by the man now suspected in last week’s mass shooting attack in Boulder has released a statement denying he bullied the now-suspect or called him racial slurs when they were classmates at Arvada West High School, in contrast to statements made by Ahmad Alissa at the time.

Alissa, now 21, was charged with third-degree assault in November 2017 for punching a classmate, identified in an arrest report as Alex Kimose, several times. According to the arrest report, several witnesses told Arvada police that Alissa, with fists clenched and a “look of pure anger,” punched Kimose in the face. When the student fell, Alissa continued beating him by punching him in the face several more times. 

Several witnesses said they saw no words exchanged or confrontation leading up to the assault. The victim didn’t fight back, and yelled “what the hell” after the attack.  

In a written statement after the assault, provided to police by the school’s assistant principal, Alissa said that Kimose had been bullying him and he “could not take it anymore.” Alissa told the investigating officer that Kimose had used derogatory racial terms.  

The Denver Gazette reached out to members of Kimose’s family this week. Through an attorney, Kimose declined an interview, but provided a statement denying Kimose bullied Alissa and supporting Alissa’s third-degree assault conviction.  

“Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the community of the senseless domestic attack in Boulder. While the community searches for answers to why and how, the family of Alex Kimose, the victim of an Assault by Alissa in 2017, wishes to clear the record. As corroborated by the police investigation and independent investigation consisting of over 30 interviews from witnesses regarding the Assault for which Alissa was convicted, Alex Kimose never bullied Alissa or used any racial slur. The attack was unprovoked. Alissa plead guilty to 3rd degree assault and we stand by that conviction.” 

Attempts by the Denver Gazette to reach Alissa’s family since March 23 have been unsuccessful. 

A few students told police Alissa and Kimose had previously been friendly with each other.  

Most students said they had not heard the two say anything bad about each other, according to the arrest report. However, one person told the investigating officer Alissa had called Kimose a “dick” a few weeks before the incident. Another witness said the day of the attack, Alissa said of Kimose, “I’m going to slap the [expletive] out of that kid someday” and had told the student a few weeks earlier Kimose was mean to him. 

Alissa did not report the supposed bullying to school officials, according to the arrest report. 

Alissa pled guilty in 2018 to third-degree assault. He received a sentence for one year of probation, 48 hours of community service and financial penalties. The judge also directed Alissa to seek treatment for his response to anger, according to an order filed in April 2018.  

Alissa was also suspended from school for the attack, says the arrest report.   

He has now been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder in connection with last Monday’s mass shooting attack at a King Soopers in south Boulder. The Gazette has previously reported the 2018 assault conviction did not bar Alissa from purchasing the semiautomatic gun used in the attack.

Alissa has a status conference hearing in court May 25, two months to the day after his first court appearance, according to court papers court papers.