Nightclub shooter ran neo-nazi site
Aldrich used racial, gay slurs in online gaming
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The 22-year-old accused of carrying out the deadly mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs in November ran a neo-nazi website and used gay and racial slurs while gaming online, a police detective testified Wednesday.
Anderson Lee Aldrich used racial slurs while gaming, posted an image of a rifle scope trained on a gay pride parade and used a bigoted slur when referring to someone who was gay, Detective Rebecca Joines testified on the first day of a three-day trial to determine if there’s enough evidence to warrant hate crime charges against Aldrich in the Nov. 19 attack.
Aldrich identifies as nonbinary and uses the pronouns they and them. Joines said another witness told investigators that Aldrich said their mother, Laura Voepel, is nonbinary and forced them to go to LGBTQ clubs.
Joines said evidence also indicates that Aldrich was considering live-streaming the Nov. 19 attack in which five people were killed and many others were injured.
Detective Ashton Gardner also testified Wednesday, describing how a Navy sailor grabbed the barrel of a gunman’s rifle and an Army veteran rushed in to help as they ended the deadly mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs in November,
As panicked patrons fled from the dance floor at Club Q, Petty Officer Second Class Thomas James tumbled off a landing with the 22-year-old gunman, Anderson Lee Aldrich.
James, whose hand had been burned from grabbing the hot barrel of the rifle, then struggled with Aldrich over a handgun. Aldrich fired at least once, shooting James in the ribs, Gardner said.
After being shot, it is clear from the video that James was tiring, “but he continues to do what he can to subdue the suspect until police arrive,” Gardner testified, noting that James later gave up his spot in an ambulance to someone else who was injured.
As James was grappling with Aldrich, Army veteran Richard Fierro rushed over to help, grabbing the rifle and throwing it, Gardner said.
Aldrich shook during the testimony about those they shot and cried while being led out of court for the lunch break.
After the gunfire ended and police arrived, Aldrich, 22, tried to pin the shooting on one of the patrons who subdued them while also claiming that the shooter was hiding, officer Connor Wallick testified.
Unlike the other charges Aldrich faces, including murder and attempted murder, hate crime charges require prosecutors to present evidence of a motive — that Aldrich was driven by bias, either wholly or in part.
Although Aldrich identifies as nonbinary, someone who is a member of a protected group such as the LGBTQ-PLUS community can still be charged with a hate crime for targeting peers.
During cross-examination, Gasper said investigators found “concerning writings.” But he said they found no manifesto or plan to target members of the LGBTQ community either on Aldrich or in his home.