The recent sentencing hearing for Anderson Lee Aldrich, who carried out a deadly shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs last year, has shed new light on their disturbing behavior leading up to the attack. According to prosecutors, Aldrich spent over $9,000 on weapons-related purchases from at least 56 vendors between September 2020 and November 19th of last year.
The evidence presented also included a hand-drawn map of Club Q with marked entry and exit points found inside Aldrich’s apartment, as well as a black binder containing training material entitled “How to handle an active shooter.” This chilling preparation was meant to ensure maximum destruction and chaos during the attack.
Defense attorneys had argued that Aldrich was under the influence of cocaine and medication at the time of the shooting. However, prosecutors pointed out that this claim is highly unlikely given Aldrich’s meticulous planning and execution of the attack.
Aldrich’s defense team also claimed their client identifies as nonbinary, using they/them pronouns. But some victims, including Ashtin Gamblin who worked at Club Q on the night of the shooting, have rejected this claim. “To come into a sanctuary like that and do what you did? You’re not part of our community,” Gamblin said in an interview.
Gamblin’s words echo the sentiments of many in the LGBTQ+ community who feel betrayed by Aldrich’s actions. The attack was particularly devastating because it occurred on Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day meant to honor and celebrate transgender individuals.
Aldrich had visited Club Q at least eight times before the shooting, including an hour-and-a-half visit just before midnight when they returned wearing a tactical vest with ballistic plates and carrying an AR-15 style rifle. The attack was stopped by two brave patrons who grabbed the barrel of Aldrich’s rifle and helped subdue them until police arrived.
What’s even more disturbing is that there were opportunities to prevent this violence from occurring in the first place. In June 2021, Aldrich was arrested for threatening their grandparents and vowing to become “the next mass killer.” But instead of facing consequences, they were allowed back into society with no restrictions on their ability to purchase firearms.
The lack of accountability has left many wondering how this could have happened in the first place. The proposed sentence is a step towards justice, but it’s clear that there are still many questions and concerns about how we can prevent such tragedies from occurring again in the future.