A Colorado shooter who killed five people at an LGBTQ+ nightclub was sentenced to life in prison Monday after victims called the suspect a “monster” preying on patrons in a targeted attack.
Anderson Lee Aldrich, 23, wearing a blue plaid shirt and blue tie in court, pleaded guilty to five counts of murder and 46 counts of attempted murder – one for each person at Club Q on the night of the shooting. Aldrich also claimed he had no objection to two hate crimes, one a felony and the other a misdemeanor.
Those in the courtroom wiped away tears as the judge explained the charges and read the names of the victims.
“You are targeting a group of people for their simple existence,” Judge Michael McHenry told Aldrich.
The admission of guilt comes just seven months after the shooting, sparing the victim’s families and survivors a long and potentially painful process.
Aldrich will serve five consecutive life sentences, plus 48 years for each attempted murder, for a total of another 2,208 years.
Anderson Aldrich pleaded guilty during his arraignment in El Paso County District Court Monday in connection with the November 19 attack on Club Q
Those killed in the shooting were Kelly Loving, 40; Daniel Aston, 28; Derrick Rump, 38; Ashley Paugh, 34; and Raymond Green Vance, 22
On November 19, 2022, Aldrich in body armor opened fire at Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub. Aside from those killed, nearly two dozen others were shot or otherwise injured before being stopped by “heroic” well-wishers.
Those killed in the shooting were Kelly Loving, 40; Daniel Aston, 28; Derrick Rump, 38; Ashley Paugh, 34; and Raymond Green Vance, 22.
“This thing sitting in this courtroom isn’t human, it’s a monster,” said Jessica Fierro, whose boyfriend was killed that night. “The devil is waiting with open arms.”
Heartbroken loved ones spoke at Aldrich’s hearing on Monday, including Sabrina and Jeff Aston, the parents of Daniel Aston – one of the bartenders at Club Q.
“Losing him has brought us incredible grief and sadness,” said Jeff Aston. “We’ll never hear another of his stories.” “I’ll never hear him laugh at my father’s jokes again.”
Aston’s mother, Sabrina, was among those who said she would not forgive the crimes.
Another forgave Aldrich without excusing the crime.
“I forgive that person because they are a symbol of a broken system, of hate and hate being shown to us as a community,” said Wyatt Kent, Aston Partner. “What brings me joy is that this hurt person will never see the joy and light that has come into our community as a result.”
Aldrich mostly looked down while the victims spoke, sometimes glancing at a screen showing photos of the victims.
Adriana Vance, mother of Raymond Green Vance, told the court, “Somehow the families have to find a way to move on.” This man didn’t deserve to move on. What matters now is that he sees neither a sunrise nor a sunset.’
Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado – where the shooting took place
Aldrich, then 22, was formally indicted on December 6 and charged with 323 felonies, but did not file a plea deal at the time
The Club Q shooting was reminiscent of a 2016 massacre when a gunman killed 49 people at Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., before being shot dead by police.
Aldrich, then 22, was formally indicted on December 6 and charged with 323 felonies, but did not file a plea deal at the time.
The most serious charges carry a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole.
However, Aldrich could face the death penalty in federal court if prosecutors choose to press charges under US law, which still provides the death penalty for certain crimes.
Monday’s hearing followed a series of phone calls from prison to The Associated Press by Aldrich, expressing his remorse and intention to face the consequences at this court hearing.
Before Aldrich committed the fatal shooting, the suspect had threatened to kill his grandparents in 2021 for getting in the way of a plan to become “the next mass killer.”
Aldrich is pictured last year showing up at the house where her mother rented a room after she threatened to blow up her grandparents’ basement
Several survivors told the AP about the consent form after being approached about Aldrich’s comments to the publisher.
They said prosecutors told them that Aldrich, who is non-binary and uses the pronouns “the” and “them,” would plead guilty, which would carry a life sentence.
Aldrich was initially charged in more than 300 states, including murder and hate crimes.
The U.S. Department of Justice is considering filing federal hate crime charges, according to a senior law enforcement official familiar with the matter, who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing case.
The Club Q attack came over a year after Aldrich was arrested for threatening her grandparents and vowing to be “the next mass killer”. However, the charges were ultimately dropped in that case.
Aldrich was then arrested after a confrontation with SWAT officers, which was livestreamed on Facebook, and after the evacuation of 10 nearby homes. He told officers, “If they break through, I’m going to fucking blow it up!” Aldrich finally surrendered.
However, the charges against Aldrich were dropped in July 2022 after Aldrich’s mother and grandparents, victims of the case, refused to cooperate with prosecutors and evaded efforts to serve subpoenas for testimony, court documents said.
Other relatives told a judge they feared Aldrich would hurt their grandparents if they were released, painting the picture of an isolated, violent person who didn’t have a job and was paid $30,000, mostly to buy 3D printers spent on making weapons, the records said.
Aldrich was subsequently released from prison and authorities seized two guns upon arrest – a Ghost pistol and an MM15 rifle.
But nothing prevented Aldrich from buying more firearms legally, which immediately after the shooting raised questions about whether authorities should have obtained a red flag order to prevent such purchases.
Club Q victim Kelly Loving, 40, a trans woman, was among the five people killed in the shooting
Derrick Rump, 38, was “active in the local LGBTQ community” and was popular with friends and family
Raymond Green Vance, 22, was tragically killed during the club massacre
Daniel Aston, 28, was one of the innocent victims killed by the lone gunman
Ashley Paugh, 35, a married mother, was one of five victims
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said it could not have obtained a court order stopping Aldrich from purchasing or possessing guns because the 2021 arrest file was sealed after the charges were dropped.
There is no new evidence they could use to prove Aldrich poses a threat “in the near future,” the sheriff’s office said.
Investigators later revealed that the two weapons Aldrich possessed during the Club-Q attack — the rifle and a handgun — appeared to be ghost guns, which are homemade firearms with no serial number and no background check required for the owner.
Aldrich told AP in one of the prison interviews that they were on “very large amounts of drugs” and abusing steroids at the time of the attack. However, they did not directly respond to the hate crime allegations.
Candles, flowers and cards stand outside Club Q to commemorate the five victims who lost their lives
Investigators at the Club Q nightclub crime scene, where Aldrich arrived with an AR-15 rifle
When asked if the attack was motivated by hate, Aldrich simply replied that it was “completely off the mark.” Aldrich’s attorneys, who have not disputed Aldrich’s role in the shooting, also indicate that hatred is the cause.
Some survivors who overheard the recorded phone calls viewed Aldrich’s comments as an attempt to avoid the death penalty, which still exists in the federal system.
Colorado abolished it in 2020 and life without prison is now the prescribed penalty for first-degree murder in the state.
They objected to Aldrich’s unwillingness to discuss motive and the use of passive, general language such as “I just can’t believe what happened” and “I wish I could turn back time.”