Colorado Club Q shooting: Attacker sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty

The attacker who killed 5 radical astatine an LGBT nightclub successful Colorado past has been sentenced to beingness successful situation aft pleading blameworthy to execution and attempted murder.

Anderson Lee Aldrich, 23, opened occurrence with an battle firearm astatine Club Q successful Colorado Springs connected 19 November 2022.

The shooting was stopped by club-goers, who subdued the attacker until constabulary arrived.

The 5 dormant ranged successful property from 22 to 40. Another 17 were near shot.

The slain victims were Daniel Aston, Derrick Rump, Kelly Loving, Ashley Paugh and Raymond Vance.

As portion of a plea deal, the attacker was sentenced to 5 consecutive beingness sentences without the anticipation of parole, arsenic good arsenic 46 consecutive 48 twelvemonth sentences for the attempted murders. Aldrich, who identifies arsenic non-binary, asked the tribunal connected Monday to beryllium identified by the gender-neutral honorific Mx.

They pleaded "no contest" to charges of bias-motivated crimes, for which they were sentenced to conscionable nether 4 years.

"When you perpetrate a hatred crime, you are targeting a radical of radical for their elemental existence," Judge Michael McHenry said. "The condemnation successful this tribunal is that specified hatred volition not beryllium tolerated."

Judge McHenry added that helium believes Aldrich's actions "reflect the deepest malice of the quality heart".

"And malice is astir ever calved of ignorance and fear," Judge McHenry added.

Aldrich declined to code the tribunal up of the sentencing. Their attorney, however, said they are "deeply remorseful and profoundly sorry" and "know they can't bash thing to marque it better".

Victims of immoderate of the household members addressed the tribunal aft the plea.

Among them was Sabrina Aston, the parent of Daniel Aston, who was 1 of Club Q's bartenders the nighttime of the shooting.

"I volition ne'er forgive you for the heinous crime," she said.

Adriana Vance, the parent of Raymond Vance, said Aldrich "doesn't merit to spell on".

"What matters present is that helium ne'er sees the sunrise oregon the sunset," she added.

Ashley Paugh's begetter Curt asked the court: "Why isn't the punishment harsher?"

"He gets to respire air, devour 3 meals a day," helium said, adding that Aldrich should "rot successful loneliness and hate".

Aldrich showed nary emotion arsenic the families made statements.

In a caller interrogation with the Associated Press quality agency, Aldrich said they felt a request to " instrumentality work for what happened". They besides claimed they were "on a precise ample plethora of drugs" astatine the time.

When asked by the justice connected Monday, Aldrich said they stay connected a assortment of medication, including temper stabilisers and anti-psychotic drugs.

Aldrich's mentation of the lawsuit was disputed by District Attorney Michael Allen, who called Aldrich's comments "self-serving successful nature" and "disgusting".

He added that the grounds suggests months of readying and premeditation by Aldrich, including intentionally evading inheritance checks to acquisition weapons and communicating "a hatred for minorities and those successful the LGBTQ+ community".

"These victims were targeted for who they were and are," Mr Allen said. "The targeting of groups volition not beryllium tolerated".

The shooting - which lasted six minutes - was ended aft Richard Fierro, a 15-year US Army veteran, tackled the attacker.

As Mr Fierro and Aldrich wrestled connected the ground, a resistance amusement performer pummelled Aldrich with a high-heel shoe.

In tribunal connected Monday, Mr Fierro referred to Mr Aldrich arsenic a "terrorist" who "brought combat" to guiltless radical astatine Club Q.

"I had much respect for the adversaries I fought overseas than I bash for this individual," helium said. "I anticipation the words I yelled into the backmost of your caput that nighttime echo for the remainder of your life."

Aldrich had antecedently been arrested successful Colorado Springs successful June 2021 aft threatening to detonate a weaponry and harm their mother, tribunal documents show.

The charges were dropped contempt relatives informing the justice successful that lawsuit that Aldrich remained a information to the public.