Non-binary suspect charged with killing five people The Colorado nightclub is expected to reach a plea deal
The non-binary suspect charged with shooting five people to death at a gay Colorado nightclub — and wounding 17 people — is expected to enter a plea that will see him spend the rest of his life in prison.
Anderson Lee Aldrich, 23, expressed regret over the November 19, 2022 mass shooting at Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, during a series of prison calls to the Associated Press.
Aldrich, who is due to appear in court on June 26, told the news outlet in their first public statement, “I have to take responsibility for what happened.”
Under Colorado law, the victims’ relatives must be contacted in advance if a plea deal or other deal is made.
The families were told that Aldrich would plead guilty to charges that would guarantee the maximum state sentence of life behind bars.
Prosecutors also told survivors to write victim statements and prepare for the gruesome video that may be released in court of the deadly rampage.
Anderson Lee Aldrich, the non-binary 22-year-old accused of shooting five people to death at Club Q, an LGBTQ club in Colorado Springs on Nov. 19, 2022. He is pictured in his mugshot after his November arrest
Candles, flowers, cards and posters are placed outside Club Q in memory of the five victims who died
Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The non-binary suspect in the club shooting is expected to plead guilty
Federal and state authorities and attorneys declined to comment when a plea deal was on the table.
Aldrich – who uses she/she pronouns – faces more than 300 state cases, including murder and hate crimes. Federal officials are also considering adding hate crime charges, though it’s unclear whether federal charges could be dropped if the defendant pleads for the Colorado charges.
On November 19, Aldrich reportedly walked into Club Q and fired an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle into the crowd inside. Partygoers had to duck across the dance floor for safety. Family and friends tried to protect each other and used napkins to cover wounds.
A naval officer grabbed Aldrich’s rifle to help stop the firing, while an army vet joined in to subdue and beat Aldrich until police arrived.
When the shooting stopped, five people were killed, 17 were injured and another five were injured in the frantic scene.
The five dead were identified as Kelly Loving, Daniel Aston, Derrick Rump, Ashley Paugh and Raymond Green Vance
The five dead were identified as Kelly Loving, Daniel Aston, Derrick Rump, Ashley Paugh and Raymond Green Vance
Club Q victim Kelly Loving, 40, was one of five killed in the shooting
Derrick Rump was “active in the local LGBTQ community” and loved by those who knew him
Raymond Green Vance, 22, was tragically killed in the club massacre. He is pictured with his girlfriend Kassy Fierro
Daniel Aston was one of the innocent victims killed by the lone gunman. Sabrina Aston said, “I hope everyone can remember Daniel as the funny person he was,” Sabrina said. “He just loved talking to people, and people liked to tell him things. He was a great mentor to those transitioning. And he loved Club Q’
Another 17 people were injured by gunfire when shooting began in November 2022 at club Q in Colorado
District Attorney Michael Allen told a judge that the defendant’s mother forced Aldrich to go to the club “against his will and kind of forced that culture on him.”
Aldrich’s step-grandfather, Johnathon Pullman, said his lover “must realize what happened on that terrible night.” It’s really starting to sink in.’
Survivor Wyatt Kent was celebrating his 23rd birthday when his partner, Daniel Aston, a Club Q employee, was behind the bar during the shooting and was killed.
Kent mourns the loss of his partner whom he described as “a son, a daughter, a best friend.”
“Someone has passed away and the judiciary will never get it back,” he said
Michael Anderson, a bartender at Club Q who survived the terror night, gave an impassioned speech to members of Congress in December.
“Hate speech turns into hate action, and actions based on hate almost took my life when I was 25 years old,” he said, previously reported to NBC News.
Pikes Peak Pride, a nonprofit founded by local LGBT volunteers, announced in a Facebook report that they have partnered with the community and with the families of those who died to establish a Memorial Fund to raise money to build the memorial in honor of their “fallen friends.”
Sabrina Aston, who lost her son Daniel Aston, said: “I think it’s important for us to honor those we love who died and those who were hurt and affected by the tragedy.”
“It affected the entire gay community here in Colorado Springs. It’s important for us to go somewhere, to leave flowers, to sit and remember those we’ve lost, just like we do now at the temporary memorial in Club Q.’
Money donated to this fund is managed by the Pikes Peak Pride Committee and paid directly to contractors working on the monument.
“I hope everyone remembers Daniel as the fun-loving person he was,” Sabrina said. “He just loved talking to people, and people liked to tell him things. He was a great mentor to those transitioning. And he loved Club Q,” she said.
“He loved what it stood for. He loved helping people. I hope this memorial will help everyone remember Daniel and that his love for this space will continue to help people in our community to heal.”