USA TODAY International Edition
Colo. mass shooting suspect expected to accept plea deal
Aldrich would receive life sentence for 300 charges
The suspect accused of killing five people and injuring 17 in a mass shooting at a Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ nightclub last year is expected to accept a plea deal that would guarantee a life sentence, The Associated Press reported Thursday.
Anderson Aldrich, 23, is facing more than 300 charges, including first- degree murder and hate crimes, in connection with the shooting at Club Q in November. Colorado law requires victims be notified of potential plea deals, and several of those who survived or lost loved ones in the attack told the AP state prosecutors alerted them Aldrich would plead guilty and face the maximum state sentence.
A spokesperson for Colorado’s Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s office declined to comment on the potential plea deal, and a defense attorney for the suspect did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY.
Aldrich is expected to appear in court for an arraignment June 26, according to court records. Prosecutors asked survivors to write victim impact statements and prepare for possible release of surveillance footage of the shooting.
Michael Anderson, who was bartending at Club Q at the time of the shooting, told prosecutors he wanted a fast resolution of the criminal case.
“My fear is that if this takes years, that prevents the processing and moving on and finding peace beyond this case,” he told the AP. “I would love this wrapped up as quickly as possible under the guarantee that justice is served.”
What is the suspected shooter charged with?
Aldrich, who identifies as nonbinary, faces more than 300 state charges. Defense attorneys argued during a preliminary hearing earlier this year that there was no evidence Aldrich committed a hate crime, but Fourth Judicial District Judge Michael McHenry declined to drop any of the charges.
The Justice Department also is considering filing federal hate crime charges, the AP reported, citing a senior law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
It’s unclear whether a plea deal for the state charges would also resolve the federal investigation, the outlet reported. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Aldrich plans “take responsibility for what happened”
Aldrich is accused of opening fire with an AR- 15 style rifle at the nightclub before bar patrons, including Army veteran Richard Fierro, helped subdue him. Prosecutors argued Aldrich targeted the LGBTQ+ club and cited images shared by a Discord account associated with Aldrich, including an image of a rifle sight centered on a Pride parade, and hateful videos posted to a website administered by Aldrich, including a “neo nazi- mass shooter terrorist training video.”
Public defenders representing Aldrich denied they targeted a specific group and pointed toward a number of prescription drugs taken by Aldrich, evidence of drug use found in the suspect’s car and testimony that Aldrich had taken a variety of narcotics before the shooting. When asked whether the attack was motivated by hate, Aldrich told the AP “that’s totally off base.” Aldrich expressed remorse.
“I have to take responsibility for what happened,” Aldrich said.
Some survivors who listened to Aldrich’s recorded jailhouse phone calls with the outlet said Aldrich’s comments were an attempt to avoid the federal death penalty.