Anderson Lee Aldrich, the person convicted of murdering and maiming numerous people during a mass shooting at an LGBTQ+ Colorado bar in 2022, has been sentenced to multiple life sentences. Photo: Colorado Department of Corrections
The person convicted of murdering and maiming numerous people during a mass shooting at an LGBTQ+ Colorado bar has been sentenced to multiple life sentences.
Anderson Lee Aldrich, 24, received 55 concurrent life sentences plus an additional 190 years in prison for the Nov. 19, 2022, massacre at Club Q in Colorado Springs.
This sentencing follows Aldrich’s guilty plea to 74 federal hate crimes and firearms counts related to the club attack.
Aldrich admitted to the premeditated, malicious killing of five people, injuring 19 others, and attempting to kill 26 more, according to a Justice Department press release.
“Fueled by hate, the defendant targeted members of the LGBTQIA+ community at a place that represented belonging, safety, and acceptance – stealing five people from their loved ones, injuring 19 others, and striking fear across the country,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in the Tuesday statement.
“Today’s sentencing makes clear that the Justice Department is committed to protecting the right of every person in this country to live free from the fear that they will be targeted by hate-fueled violence or discrimination based on who they are or who they love,” Garland said.
Joseph Komrosky, Temecula Valley school board member, loses recall
The plea agreement confirms that Aldrich’s actions were driven by hatred toward the victims’ sexual orientation and gender identity.
Aldrich is already in prison serving five life sentences with an additional 2,208 years after pleading guilty last year to five counts of first-degree murder and other state counts.
On the night of the Club Q shooting, Aldrich first entered the club approximately 10:15 p.m. before walking back to the parking lot.
Aldrich re-entered Club Q shortly before midnight, wearing a ballistic vest and carrying an AR-15-style assault rifle, and turned the club into a bloodbath.
Aldrich was tackled and disarmed by patrons, including Army veteran Richard Fierro, before being taken into custody by authorities.
After his arrest, Aldrich said he identified as nonbinary. However, prosecutors said no prior indication existed of Aldrich identifying as nonbinary before the shooting, suggesting it was a tactic to avoid hate crime charges.
In January, Aldrich was charged with federal hate crimes, with the potential for the death penalty. On Jan. 16, Aldrich pleaded not guilty to these new counts, which included 50 hate crimes and 24 weapons charges.
“The 2022 mass shooting at Club Q is one of the most violent crimes against the LGBTQIA+ community in history,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in the statement. “The FBI and our partners have worked tirelessly towards this sentencing, but the true heroes are the patrons of the Club who selflessly acted to subdue the defendant.
“This Pride Month and every month, the FBI stands with the survivors, victims, and families of homophobic violence and hate,” he said.
