Suspect in gay bar shooting that killed 5 facing murder, hate crime charges
By THOMAS PEIPERT and JESSE BEDAYN, Associated Press
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Updated:
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The man suspected of killing five people and injuring others at a gay bar in Colorado Springs is facing murder and hate crime charges, according to online court records obtained Monday.
Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, faces five murder charges and five charges of committing a bias-motivated crime causing bodily injury, the records show.
A law enforcement official said the suspect used an AR-15-style semiautomatic weapon in Saturday night’s attack, but a handgun and additional ammunition magazines also were recovered. The official could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Information on a lawyer who could speak on Aldrich’s behalf wasn’t immediately available Monday.
Club Q on its Facebook page thanked the “quick reactions of heroic customers that subdued the gunman and ended this hate attack.”
Already questions were being raised about why authorities didn’t seek to take Aldrich’s guns away from him in 2021, when he was arrested after his mother reported he threatened her with a homemade bomb and other weapons.
Though authorities at the time said no explosives were found, gun control advocates are asking why police didn’t try to trigger Colorado’s “red flag” law, which would have allowed authorities to seize the weapons his mother says he had. There’s also no public record prosecutors ever moved forward with felony kidnapping and menacing charges against Aldrich.
Mayor John Suthers said on NBC’s “Today” that the district attorney would file motions in court Monday to allow law enforcement to talk more about any criminal history “that this individual might have had.”
Of the 25 injured at Club Q, at least seven were in critical condition, authorities said. Some were hurt trying to flee, and it was unclear if all of them were shot, a police spokesperson said. Suthers told The Associated Press there was “reason to hope” all of those hospitalized would recover. Full story:
RJ Sangosti
Leia-jhene Seals, left, hugs Carter Rodriguez outside All Souls Unitarian Church before a vigil for the victims of an overnight fatal shooting at Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Colorado Springs, Colo. (RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via AP)
RJ Sangosti
R.J. Lewis, center, attends a vigil at All Souls Unitarian Church with others, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Colorado Springs, Colo., following a fatal shooting at gay nightclub Club Q late the night before. Lewis was at Club Q when a 22-year-old gunman entered the LGBTQ nightclub killing several people and injuring multiple others. (RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via AP)
Parker Seibold
Tyrice Kelley, center right, a performer at Club Q, is comforted during a service held at All Souls Unitarian Church following an overnight fatal shooting at the gay nightclub, in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. (Parker Seibold/The Gazette via AP)
Helen H. Richardson
Tyler Johnston, right, comforts his friend Joshua Thurman at a makeshift memorial near Club Q, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Thurman was inside the gay nightclub when a gunman opened fire the night before, killing several people and injuring multiple others before he was subdued by “heroic” patrons. (Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via AP)
RJ Sangosti
Leia-jhene Seals hugs R.J. Lewis at a vigil for the victims of the Saturday night Club Q shooting at All Souls Unitarian Church on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Seals was performing when a 22-year-old gunman entered the LGBTQ nightclub, killing at least several people and injuring multiple others. Lewis was also at the nightclub. (RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via AP)
Helen H. Richardson
Tyler Johnston, left, his fiance Keenan Mestas-Holmes, center, and their friend Atlas Pretzeus hug one another while paying their respects at a makeshift memorial near Club Q on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022 in Colorado Springs, Colo. The trio have close friends that were involved in the shooting. An attacker opened fire in a gay nightclub late Saturday night. (Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via AP)
Geneva Heffernan
Flowers lay at a makeshift memorial near a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022 where a shooting occurred late Saturday night. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)
Geneva Heffernan
Catherine Wiggs grieves near a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, where a shooting occurred late Saturday night. A 22-year-old gunman opened fire in a gay nightclub, killing at least five people and leaving multiple others injured before he was subdued by “heroic” patrons and arrested by police who were on the scene within minutes, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)
Geneva Heffernan
Tim Bates, Erric Ramirez, Malissa Ramirez, Trinity Ramirez, and Fred Ramirez deliver flowers near a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, where a shooting occurred late Saturday night. Police say a 22-year-old gunman opened fire at a gay nightclub, Club Q, killing at least five people and leaving multiple people injured before he was subdued by “heroic” patrons. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)
Geneva Heffernan
Michael Robert Travis performs taps while his husband, Michael Travis, films on his phone near a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, where a shooting occurred late Saturday night. Police say a 22-year-old gunman opened fire at the gay nightclub, Club Q, killing at least five people and leaving multiple people injured before he was subdued by “heroic” patrons. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)
Christian Murdock
Kristen Morris and her son, Kai Morris, 6, walk away from a memorial Sunday morning, Nov. 20, 2022, for the victims of a shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Saturday night. Morris wanted to share kindness and she and her two sons placed painted crosses on the memorial. (Christian Murdock/The Gazette via AP)
Geneva Heffernan
Nelly Brusnell signs a cross on the chest of Ivanna Brusnell after placing flowers near a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, where a fatal shooting occurred late Saturday night. Police say a 22-year-old gunman opened fire at the gay nightclub, Club Q, killing several people and leaving multiple people injured before he was subdued by “heroic” patrons. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)
Geneva Heffernan
Crystal and Ella Mondragon place flowers at a makeshift memorial near a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022 where a shooting occurred late Saturday night. (AP PhotoGeneva Heffernan)
Geneva Heffernan
Fred Ramirez, Trinity Ramirez, Tim Bates, and Malissa Ramirez grieve near a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, where a shooting occurred late Saturday night. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)
Christian Murdock
Sophie Kamerrer, left, and Torrey Lovett embrace while visiting a makeshift memorial near Club Q Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, after a shooting Saturday night at the Colorado Springs, Colo., bar. (Christian Murdock/The Gazette via AP)
Parker Seibold
R.J. Lewis sobs in the pews of All Souls Unitarian Church at the start of a service held for people to mourn following a fatal shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. Lewis was at the club when the shooting occurred Saturday night. (Parker Seibold/The Gazette via AP)
Christian Murdock
People gather around a memorial Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, for the victims of Saturday's fatal shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Christian Murdock/The Gazette via AP)
Christian Murdock
Flowers and messages cover a memorial Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, for the victims of Saturday's fatal shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Christian Murdock/The Gazette via AP)
Damian Dovarganes
Sister Unity lights candles at a memorial for the victims of Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colo., outside Rocco's WeHo in West Hollywood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Damian Dovarganes
A memorial sprang up for the victims of Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colo., outside Rocco's WeHo in West Hollywood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Damian Dovarganes
Musician Ryan Cassata sings for the victims of Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colo., at the Transgender Day of Remembrance event in West Hollywood, Calif., Sunday night, Nov. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Damian Dovarganes
British intersex activist, comedian Seven Graham hugs his Beagle service dog, "Scotty," as they attend a memorial for the victims of Saturday's fatal shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colo., at the Transgender Day of Remembrance event in West Hollywood, Calif., Sunday night, Nov. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Damian Dovarganes
Sister Unity, left, and Dan Mryglot light up candles at a memorial for the victims of Saturday's fatal shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colo., in West Hollywood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Damian Dovarganes
People light up candles at a makeshift memorial for the victims of Saturday's fatal shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colo., outside Rocco's WeHo in West Hollywood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via AP
Tyler Johnston, left, his fiance Keenan Mestas-Holmes, center, and their friend Atlas Pretzeus hug one another while paying their respects at a makeshift memorial near Club Q on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022 in Colorado Springs, Colo. The trio have close friends that were involved in the shooting. An attacker opened fire in a gay nightclub late Saturday night.
