A memorial for the victims of the shooting in Colorado Springs, where five were killed
COLORADO SPRING, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The alleged attacker in the Club Q gay nightclub shooting that killed five people has been charged with hate crimes, murder, and assault.
The suspect, Anderson Lee Aldrich, appeared in court on Tuesday to hear the charges over the Nov 19 attack at the LGBTQ club in Colorado Springs, Colorado that left five dead and injured at least 17 people.
Patrons at the club halted the attack, knocking Aldrich to the ground and pummelling him.
Colorado does not have the death penalty. Aldrich would face life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted of first-degree murder.
However, Aldrich could face a death sentence in federal court if prosecutors decide to bring charges under the US code, which still has capital punishment on its books for certain crimes.
District lawyer Michael Allen had noted that murder charges would carry the harshest penalty – likely life in prison – but also said it was important to show the community that bias-motivated crimes are not tolerated if there was evidence to support the charge.
A motive for the shooting has not been identified.
The attack took place during a drag queen’s birthday party, and on the eve of a day of remembrance for transgender people lost to violence. Club Q was known as a sanctuary for people from the LGBTQ community in the conservative-leaning city of Colorado Springs.
The attack has drawn comparisons to the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando, Florida, where a gunman entered a gay club and killed 49 people before he was killed by police.
More than a year before the shooting, Aldrich was arrested on allegations of making a bomb threat that led to the evacuation of about 10 homes. Aldrich threatened to harm family members with a homemade bomb, ammunition and multiple weapons, authorities said at the time. — NNN-AGENCIES
