Five killed and eighteen injured in Colorado Springs shooting, Suspect Arrested
Five people have died and 18 injured after a gunman opened fire late Saturday evening at an LGBTQ+ bar in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The suspect, 22-year-old Anderson Aldrich, is facing charges of first-degree murder and biased motivated crimes and remains hospitalized.
Just before midnight Saturday, Aldrich allegedly entered Club Q in Colorado Springs and instantly began firing into the crowd with a long rifle, according to bartender Michael Anderson in an interview with CNN This Morning. Aldrich was reportedly wearing a military-style flak jacket.
Anderson reported that he saw two men who he believed to be subduing the victim. One man has been identified as Army veteran Richard M. Fierro who was at Club Q with his family. Fierro has reportedly done four combat deployments in Iraq and said his instincts kicked in to take Aldrich down. The second person has not yet been identified.
Following Aldrich’s arrest, he was taken to a local hospital due to the nature of his injuries and remains in police custody. The suspect reportedly never came to Club Q before the shooting, leading many to believe he specifically targeted the club and the LGBTQ+ community.
El Paso County District Attorney Michael Allen announced Monday that there is “some evidence” to show that Aldrich held biases against the LGBTQ+ community. In Colorado, hate crimes are legally referred to as “bias-motivated,” per CNN.
Aldrich is facing arrest-only charges of first-degree murder and five counts of bias-motivated crime causing bodily injury. These charges are preliminary and will possibly change in the coming days as the investigation progresses.
Club Q was opened 20 years ago and has quickly become a haven for the LGBTQ+ community in the conservative Colorado Springs area.
All five deceased victims in Saturday’s attack were identified by Monday morning. Ashley Paugh, 35, was not a member of the LGBT+ community but joined some friends who were to watch a comedian perform at the club. Paugh was a devoted wife and mother to her 11-year-old daughter.
Patron Raymond Green was visiting Club Q for the first time with his long-time girlfriend, according to his family. He was identified by his mother Sunday.
Kelly Loving, 40, was a trans woman from Denver who was visiting Colorado Springs for the weekend according to The Gazette. Loving’s friend, Natalee Bingham, told the New York Times that she and Loving ended a FaceTime call when the shooting began.
Two bartenders, Daniel David Aston and Derrick Rump, also died in the shooting. Aston, a transgender man, completed his transition in June and has been remembered as energetic and lively. Rump was described by employees as bubbly.
As the community begins to heal, the Colorado Healing Fund, a nonprofit set up to help those affected by mass shootings and gun violence, is accepting donations for the victims and their families.
Photo from left to right: Loving, Rump, Aston, Green, Paugh
