Last night at a LGBT Nightclub in Colorado Springs, a 22 year old man, Anderson Lee Aldrich, entered and immediately opened fire. At least 5 have been pronounced dead, and at least 18 have been injured (though not necessarily all of the injured were shot - it sounds like some may have been injured in the stampede of people fleeing the shooting.
I've actually bowled at the King Pin Lanes that shares the parking lot with the nightclub
A 22-year-old man is in police custody after at least five people were shot and killed, and 18 injured, in a mass shooting at a gay club in Colorado Springs late Saturday night.
The first call about the shooting at Club Q came into dispatch three seconds before 11:57 a.m. Saturday, according to Lt. Pamela Castro, a spokesperson for the Colorado Springs Police Department. The first officer was dispatched at 11:57 p.m., she said, and the first officer arrived at the club at midnight.
The suspect, identified as Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, was taken into custody at 12:02 a.m., according to Castro. Both Club Q, in a post on its Facebook page, as well as Colorado Springs officials, said patrons of the bar fought and subdued the attacker before officers arrived.
Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez said the suspect immediately began shooting upon entering the club and said two “heroic” people fought with him and were. Able to stop him from killing and hurting others.
“We owe them a great debt,” Vasquez said.
Vasquez said investigators found at least two firearms at the scene and that Aldrich used a long rifle in the shooting, though he did not specify the make or model. He said officers were working to obtain several search warrants but said the large and complex scene would be time consuming to comb through.
Multiple victims were taken to three area hospitals by ambulance and police cars, officials said. One of the people who died was pronounced at one of the hospitals. Seven patients were taken to Penrose, 10 were taken to Memorial Central and two were taken to Memorial North, according to Colorado Springs Fire Department Chief Randy Royal.
Castro said some people were injured trying to flee and it was not yet clear Sunday morning how many people had been shot, and said the number of people injured could change.
Several remain in critical condition as of 8:30 a.m., according to two hospital chief medical officers who spoke at an 8 a.m. news conference.
On its Facebook page, Club Q posted called the attacka hate attack and said people at the club subdued the perpetrator: "Club Q is devastated by the senseless attack on our community. Our prayers and thoughts are with all the victims and their families and friends. We thank the quick reactions of heroic customers that subdued the gunman and ended this hate attack.’"
According to its website, the club features a “Drag Diva Drag Show” on Saturday nights, which the club also advertised on its Facebook page, along with a Sunday brunch.
Joshua Thurman said he was at the club when the shooting happened and said he lost a friend in the shooting.
“I was on the dance floor dancing when I heard four to five shots. I thought it was the music, so I kept dancing. Then I heard another set of shots, and then me and a customer ran to the dressing room, got on the ground and locked the doors and called the police immediately. “
He said as they were on the ground, they continued to hear more shots before they heard people yelling that someone had tackled the shooter.
He said the community is devastated that one of the only LGBTQ havens in the city was attacked. He said he's been going to the club since 2010.
“As a Black kid, it’s taboo to be gay. So, coming here, this is one of the first places that I felt accepted to be who I am. It’s supposed to be our safe place. A community shouldn’t have to go through something like this for us to come together,” Thurman said. “This is the only LGBTQIA+ place in the entire city of Colorado Springs. What are we supposed to do? Where are we supposed to go? How are we supposed to feel safe in our environment when it just got shot up? This is our home. This is our space. We come here to enjoy ourselves, and this happens?”
The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office is working with local police, sheriff’s deputies, and the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office on the investigation. The suspect was treated for injuries after being taken into custody, Castro said.
Investigators said they would treat the investigation as one potentially involving a hate crime but said early Sunday the motive for the shooting was not yet clear. Fourth Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen said the shooting appears to have been carried out by one person but investigators are still looking into whether anyone else was connected. Officials said they could not comment regarding any prior contact with Aldrich.
Thirty-nine Colorado Springs patrol officers responded to the scene, Castro said, as well as numerous first responders from nearby municipalities.
Officials said news of the shooting at the popular Colorado Springs LGBTQ nightclubs was shocking and saddening.
“This club is not a problem. It is a safe haven for members of our community,” Castro said. “So, we are all shocked and saddened to hear this occurred last night.”
In a statement, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis called the shooting at Club Q “horrific, sickening and devastating.”
“My heart breaks for the family and friends of those lost, injured, and traumatized in this horrific shooting. I have spoken with Mayor Suthers and made it clear that every state resource is available to local law enforcement in Colorado Springs,” Polis said. “We are eternally grateful for the brave individuals who blocked the gunman likely saving lives in the process and for the first responders who responded swiftly to this horrific shooting. Colorado stands with our LGTBQ community and everyone impacted by this tragedy as we mourn together.”
Vasquez expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and witnesses and said the department would work tirelessly to ensure there is justice. He said every person has the right to express themselves without fear and without being harmed.
“I’m so terribly saddened and heartbroken,” Vasquez said.
Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers asked for patience as detectives investigate what he called “a horrible crime.” He said he had spoken with Gov. Polis, who is in quarantine with COVID-19, and with U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, who all sent condolences of their own and said they were ready to help.
“We are a strong community that has shown resilience in the face of hate and violence in the past and we will do so again,” Suthers said.
Allen said there was no place in the world for members of the LGBTQ community to be maligned and harassed.
“Every person, regardless of who they are, has the right to be secure from fear and harm, and actions to strike fear in communities like this will not be tolerated,” he said.
It appears that earlier this year, the shooter was involved in a homemade bomb threat incident (apparently threatening to use the supposed bomb as well as other weapons, on his own mother) in the Springs.
https://www.koaa.com/news/covering-c...h-neighborhood
I've actually bowled at the King Pin Lanes that shares the parking lot with the nightclub
A 22-year-old man is in police custody after at least five people were shot and killed, and 18 injured, in a mass shooting at a gay club in Colorado Springs late Saturday night.
The first call about the shooting at Club Q came into dispatch three seconds before 11:57 a.m. Saturday, according to Lt. Pamela Castro, a spokesperson for the Colorado Springs Police Department. The first officer was dispatched at 11:57 p.m., she said, and the first officer arrived at the club at midnight.
The suspect, identified as Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, was taken into custody at 12:02 a.m., according to Castro. Both Club Q, in a post on its Facebook page, as well as Colorado Springs officials, said patrons of the bar fought and subdued the attacker before officers arrived.
Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez said the suspect immediately began shooting upon entering the club and said two “heroic” people fought with him and were. Able to stop him from killing and hurting others.
“We owe them a great debt,” Vasquez said.
Vasquez said investigators found at least two firearms at the scene and that Aldrich used a long rifle in the shooting, though he did not specify the make or model. He said officers were working to obtain several search warrants but said the large and complex scene would be time consuming to comb through.
Multiple victims were taken to three area hospitals by ambulance and police cars, officials said. One of the people who died was pronounced at one of the hospitals. Seven patients were taken to Penrose, 10 were taken to Memorial Central and two were taken to Memorial North, according to Colorado Springs Fire Department Chief Randy Royal.
Castro said some people were injured trying to flee and it was not yet clear Sunday morning how many people had been shot, and said the number of people injured could change.
Several remain in critical condition as of 8:30 a.m., according to two hospital chief medical officers who spoke at an 8 a.m. news conference.
On its Facebook page, Club Q posted called the attacka hate attack and said people at the club subdued the perpetrator: "Club Q is devastated by the senseless attack on our community. Our prayers and thoughts are with all the victims and their families and friends. We thank the quick reactions of heroic customers that subdued the gunman and ended this hate attack.’"
According to its website, the club features a “Drag Diva Drag Show” on Saturday nights, which the club also advertised on its Facebook page, along with a Sunday brunch.
Joshua Thurman said he was at the club when the shooting happened and said he lost a friend in the shooting.
“I was on the dance floor dancing when I heard four to five shots. I thought it was the music, so I kept dancing. Then I heard another set of shots, and then me and a customer ran to the dressing room, got on the ground and locked the doors and called the police immediately. “
He said as they were on the ground, they continued to hear more shots before they heard people yelling that someone had tackled the shooter.
He said the community is devastated that one of the only LGBTQ havens in the city was attacked. He said he's been going to the club since 2010.
“As a Black kid, it’s taboo to be gay. So, coming here, this is one of the first places that I felt accepted to be who I am. It’s supposed to be our safe place. A community shouldn’t have to go through something like this for us to come together,” Thurman said. “This is the only LGBTQIA+ place in the entire city of Colorado Springs. What are we supposed to do? Where are we supposed to go? How are we supposed to feel safe in our environment when it just got shot up? This is our home. This is our space. We come here to enjoy ourselves, and this happens?”
The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office is working with local police, sheriff’s deputies, and the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office on the investigation. The suspect was treated for injuries after being taken into custody, Castro said.
Investigators said they would treat the investigation as one potentially involving a hate crime but said early Sunday the motive for the shooting was not yet clear. Fourth Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen said the shooting appears to have been carried out by one person but investigators are still looking into whether anyone else was connected. Officials said they could not comment regarding any prior contact with Aldrich.
Thirty-nine Colorado Springs patrol officers responded to the scene, Castro said, as well as numerous first responders from nearby municipalities.
Officials said news of the shooting at the popular Colorado Springs LGBTQ nightclubs was shocking and saddening.
“This club is not a problem. It is a safe haven for members of our community,” Castro said. “So, we are all shocked and saddened to hear this occurred last night.”
In a statement, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis called the shooting at Club Q “horrific, sickening and devastating.”
“My heart breaks for the family and friends of those lost, injured, and traumatized in this horrific shooting. I have spoken with Mayor Suthers and made it clear that every state resource is available to local law enforcement in Colorado Springs,” Polis said. “We are eternally grateful for the brave individuals who blocked the gunman likely saving lives in the process and for the first responders who responded swiftly to this horrific shooting. Colorado stands with our LGTBQ community and everyone impacted by this tragedy as we mourn together.”
Vasquez expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and witnesses and said the department would work tirelessly to ensure there is justice. He said every person has the right to express themselves without fear and without being harmed.
“I’m so terribly saddened and heartbroken,” Vasquez said.
Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers asked for patience as detectives investigate what he called “a horrible crime.” He said he had spoken with Gov. Polis, who is in quarantine with COVID-19, and with U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, who all sent condolences of their own and said they were ready to help.
“We are a strong community that has shown resilience in the face of hate and violence in the past and we will do so again,” Suthers said.
Allen said there was no place in the world for members of the LGBTQ community to be maligned and harassed.
“Every person, regardless of who they are, has the right to be secure from fear and harm, and actions to strike fear in communities like this will not be tolerated,” he said.
https://www.koaa.com/news/covering-c...h-neighborhood
Residents within a quarter-mile of the 6300 block of Pilgrimage Road in the Lorson Ranch neighborhood were evacuated Friday night by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
The Sheriff's office said the situation began around 2 p.m. Friday afternoon when they responded to a report of a bomb threat in the 9800 block of Rubicon Dr. The reporting party said her son was threatening to hurt her with a homemade bomb, multiple weapons, and ammunition. She was not in the home at the time when she made the call and was not sure where her son was.
The Sheriff's Office said then at approximately 5:46 PM, negotiators were able to get Aldrich to comply with orders and he walked out of the front door of the home and was arrested.
The Regional Explosives Unit cleared both homes and did not find any explosive devices.
Shortly after 8 p.m., the evacuation was lifted and residents were able to return to their homes.
The Sheriff's office said the situation began around 2 p.m. Friday afternoon when they responded to a report of a bomb threat in the 9800 block of Rubicon Dr. The reporting party said her son was threatening to hurt her with a homemade bomb, multiple weapons, and ammunition. She was not in the home at the time when she made the call and was not sure where her son was.
The Sheriff's Office said then at approximately 5:46 PM, negotiators were able to get Aldrich to comply with orders and he walked out of the front door of the home and was arrested.
The Regional Explosives Unit cleared both homes and did not find any explosive devices.
Shortly after 8 p.m., the evacuation was lifted and residents were able to return to their homes.
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