5 killed, over a dozen injured in LGBTQ+ club shooting in Colorado Springs

Update 5:18 p.m. Via CNN

• At least five people were killed and 25 others wounded in a shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, according to police.
• Authorities say the suspected shooter, identified as a 22-year-old man, is in custody and receiving medical treatment.
• Authorities said the attack will be investigated as a potential hate crime.
• Police praised “at least two heroic people” inside the club who confronted the gunman and stopped the attack.

Nineteen of the 25 people wounded in the overnight shooting at an LGBTQ club in Colorado Springs sustained gunshot wounds, Mayor John Suthers told CNN’s Jim Acosta Sunday. 

Based on his communication with medical personnel, Suthers said he expects the injured victims to survive, and the community is “crossing our fingers” for no more fatalities. 

Suthers added that the shooting has the “making of a hate crime” but the official motive is still under investigation. 

Suthers would not confirm if the gunman was wearing tactical gear during the shooting. 

Police say they are investigating Colorado Springs suspect’s past

From CNN’s Casey Tolan

Police said Sunday they were trying to determine the history of the suspected shooter in the deadly attack on an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs.

A man with same name and age as the shooting suspect was arrested in June of last year in connection with a bomb threat, according to a statement from law enforcement at the time. When asked at a news conference Sunday if it was the same person, officials said they had to follow certain protocols before releasing any information on prior cases.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis later told CNN’s Jim Acosta that he believes the old case was connected to the shooting suspect.

“Everything I heard indicates it is the same person,” Polis said.

According to a June 2021 press release from the El Paso County Sheriff’s office, an Anderson Lee Aldrich was arrested that month on charges of felony menacing and first-degree kidnapping. 

Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report by the man’s mother that he was “threatening to cause harm to her with a homemade bomb, multiple weapons, and ammunition,” according to the press release about the 2021 arrest. 

Deputies called the suspect, and he “refused to comply with orders to surrender,” the press release said, leading them to evacuate nearby homes.

Several hours after the initial police call, the sheriff’s crisis negotiations unit was able to get the man to leave the house he was in, and he was arrested after walking out the front door. Authorities did not find any explosives in the home.

It’s not immediately clear how the case was resolved.

Update 11:42 a.m.

The gunman who allegedly killed five people at a Colorado gay club late Saturday night before being subdued by two revelers has been identified as Anderson Lee Aldrich.

Original Article

Investigators were looking into Aldrich’s motive as they weighed hate crime charges against the suspect, who was initially presumed to be a lone gunman.

It is with great dread and heartbreak that we bring you this deadly story. Five people have been killed along with more than a dozen injured from a shooting at a Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ nightclub.

According to the Colorado Springs Police Department, the shooting happened at Club Q just before Midnight on Sunday. Police said the suspect is also being treated at the hospital.

“Club Q is devastated by the senseless attack on our community. Our pray(er)s and thoughts are with all the victims and their families and friends. We thank the quick reactions of heroic customers that subdued the gunman and ended this hate attack.”-

-Club Q

Although Q Club is stating it was a hate crime, police say they are not certain of the motive at this time. The gunman is one of the people being treated at the hospital.

“They did locate one individual who we believe to be the suspect inside,” Colorado Springs Police Lieutenant Pamela Castro said.

We will update you when we know more.