A Colorado resident, Anderson Lee Aldrich, 23, has been charged with federal hate crimes and firearms offenses in connection with the mass shooting at Club Q, an LGBTQI+ venue in Colorado Springs on November 19, 2022. The charges allege that Aldrich murdered five people, injured 19 others, and attempted to murder 26 more in a planned attack motivated by the actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity of individuals present.
According to court documents, Aldrich entered Club Q armed with a loaded assault weapon and began firing until being subdued by patrons. Prosecutors state that Aldrich has filed a notice of disposition and requested a change of plea hearing. Both parties have jointly moved for the change of plea and sentencing hearings to be scheduled on the same date. They also informed the court that there is a plea agreement anticipated to result in Aldrich pleading guilty to all charges. The date for entering the guilty plea has not yet been determined.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and Special Agent in Charge Mark D. Michalek of the FBI Denver Field Office. The investigation was conducted by the FBI Denver Field Office along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Prosecution is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alison Connaughty and Bryan Fields from the District of Colorado as well as Trial Attorney Maura White from the Civil Rights Division.
Authorities emphasize that an information is merely an allegation and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
