Anderson Lee Aldrich, 24, formerly of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was sentenced to 55 concurrent life sentences to run consecutive to 190 years in prison after pleading guilty to 74 hate crimes and firearms charges related to the Nov. 19, 2022 mass shooting at Club Q, an LGBTQIA+ establishment in Colorado Springs.
According to the plea agreement, Aldrich admitted to murdering five people, injuring 19, and attempting to murder 26 more in a willful, deliberate, malicious, and premeditated attack at Club Q. The plea states that Aldrich entered Club Q armed with a loaded, privately manufactured assault weapon and began firing until subdued by patrons of the club. As part of the plea, Aldrich admitted that this attack was motivated in part by the actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity of any person.
“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,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “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. I am grateful to every agent, prosecutor, and staff member across the Department – from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado to the Civil Rights Division, the ATF, and FBI – for their work on this case. The Justice Department will never stop working to defend the safety and civil rights of all people in our country.”
“The 2022 mass shooting at Club Q is one of the most violent crimes against the LGBTQIA+ community in history,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “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 survivors, victims, and families of homophobic violence and hate.”
“ATF will not rest until perpetrators like this defendant are prosecuted to the fullest extent of law,” said Director Steven Dettelbach of Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “I hope today’s life sentence brings at least some peace to victims and survivors of this senseless horrific tragedy. That this sentence should come during Pride Month reinforces how far we have left before all communities including all LGBTQIA+ communities are safe here. It also shows how far ATF and all our partners will go ensure hatred does not win.”
“The defendant’s mass shooting heinous targeting Club Q is one most devastating assaults on LGBTQIA+ community our nation’s history. This sentence cannot reclaim lives lost undo harms inflicted but we hope it provides survivors victims’ families their communities small measure justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our message today should be loud clear no one should have fear for their life safety because gender identity sexual orientation Justice Department vigorously investigate prosecute those perpetrate hate-fueled bias-driven attacks.”
“Hate has no place in our country no place Colorado” said Acting U.S Attorney Matt Kirsch District Colorado.” I hope today’s sentence demonstrates victims those connected horrific event we do not tolerate these heinous acts violence.”
The FBI Denver Field Office Colorado Springs Police Department ATF investigated case.
Assistant U.S Attorneys Alison Connaughty Bryan Fields District Colorado Trial Attorney Maura White Justice Department Civil Rights Division prosecuted case.
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