Security guard shot during 2003 King Soopers robbery dies

DENVER — A man who was shot in 2003 during a robbery at a Denver King Soopers store died in August from his injuries and his death was ruled a homicide.

This week the Denver Medical examiner said Karim Alsubhi died on Aug. 15 at Swedish Medical Center. He was shot on Nov. 23, 2003. According to a 2003 9NEWS story Alsubhi, who is originally from Saudi Arabia, was working as a security guard at the store in the 1300 block of Krameria Street. Video from the store shows the suspect pointing a gun at Alsubhi behind the customer service desk. 

Alsubhi attempted to grab the man’s gun, but failed, and was then shot several times before the shooter ran away, apparently empty-handed.

Alsubhi survived his injuries but died in August of this year. The Denver Medical examiner determined his cause of death was “complications of a remote gunshot wound of the spine” and determined his manner of death was homicide.

Denver Police arrested John Wise in connection with the shooting. He was convicted on multiple counts in August 2004. Those included, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and aggravated robbery.

He was sentenced in October of that year to 32 years related to the attempted murder charge and 20 years for the assault charge. Wise remains in custody in the Colorado Department of Corrections and records show he will not be eligible for parole until 2057.

A spokesman for the Denver District Attorney’s Office said Wise cannot be charged again for murder even though the victim has now died because he’s already been tried, convicted, and sentenced in connection with the crime.