Life

Suspect in Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ nightclub shooting faces murder and hate crime charges

By Jordan Robledo

21st November 2022

9News
9News

A Colorado man suspected of committing the horrific Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ nightclub shooting has been arrested and faces numerous charges. 

Content warning: This story may include topics that could make some readers feel uncomfortable.

On 19 November, Anderson Lee Aldrich reportedly entered Club Q at 11:57 pm and opened fire on the establishment’s patrons.

The devastating attack, which occurred minutes before Transgender Day of Remembrance, resulted in five innocent people killed and 18 individuals wounded.

Hours after the incident occurred, Colorado Springs Police Department Chief Adrian Vasquez gave further information about the ongoing investigation during a sombre press conference. 

“We are actively processing the scene at Club Q. Initial evidence, and interviews indicate the suspect entered Club Q and immediately began shooting at people inside as he moved further into the club,” he said during a press conference (per CBS News).

Chief Vasquez went on to reveal that “at least two heroic”  individuals inside Club Q confronted and detained Aldrich before the authorities arrived on the scene.

On 21 November, newly released court documents revealed that the 22-year-old is facing preliminary charges, including five counts of first-degree murder and five counts of committing a bias-motivated crime causing bodily injury.

In an additional report from AP News, court documents detailing what led to Aldrich’s arrest have been sealed at the requests of prosecutors, who stated it could jeopardise the investigation

At the time of this writing, it’s unclear whether the suspect has retained a lawyer. 

Shortly after the charges were announced, the Colorado Springs Police Department identified Raymond Green Vance (He/Him), Ashley Paugh (She/Her), Kelly Loving (She/Her), Daniel Aston (He/Him) and Derrick Rump (He/Him) as the five individuals who lost their lives in an extensive Twitter post. 

“We respect all of our community members, including our LGBTQ community. Therefore we will be identifying the victims by how they identified themselves and how their families have loved and identified them,” they wrote. 

In the wake of the senseless act of violence, new disturbing information about the alleged shooter has come to light, including his history of violence. 

According to a report from NPR, Aldrich had allegedly threatened his mother with a homemade bomb in 2021 – resulting in him being arrested and charged with two counts of Felony Menacing and three counts of First-Degree Kidnapping.

However despite the terrifying situation – which resulted in 10 homes being evacuated, there’s no record of prosecutors moving forward with the aforementioned charges.  

Due to Aldrich’s history, gun activists have stated that the 2021 incident was an example of the state’s “red flag” law being ignored. 

Under the legislation, law enforcement and private citizens can request a court to take away guns away from individuals who are a threat to themselves or others (per Reuters). 

This is a developing story.