Anderson Aldrich has been in the news after they opened fire inside a gay club called Club Q in Colorado Springs and ended up taking the lives of five people. It has now been revealed that they were arrested on kidnapping charges in 2021. However, despite being warned by Aldrich’s relatives that they could turn into a murderer, a judge by the name of Robin Chittum had dropped all the charges against them in July 2022.

According to court documents filed in the Colorado Springs mass shooting case, Aldrich is a non-binary individual who uses the pronouns they/them. They are being referred to as Mx. Anderson Lee Aldrich in court documents.

Also Read| Colorado gay club shooting suspect Anderson Lee Aldrich is nonbinary, say defense lawyers

In 2021, Aldrich was arrested after they held his grandparents at gunpoint in the latter’s home in Colorado Springs. The now-infamous gunman was allegedly making bombs in their basement. This led to the elderly couple calling 911 and fleeing from their home.

Charges against Aldrich — who had stockpiled explosives and allegedly spoke of plans to become the “next mass killer ” before engaging in an armed standoff with SWAT teams — were thrown out during a four-minute hearing in July in which the prosecution didn’t even argue to keep the case alive.

Also Read| Who is Randy Voepel, Colorado Springs shooting suspect’s grandfather and California state lawmaker?

There was no discussion at the hearing about Aldrich’s mental health treatment, violent past or exploring options to compel Aldrich’s grandparents and mother to testify.

The grandparents had reportedly stopped cooperating with the case by the time the July 2022 hearing took place. 

This latest report has left people wondering whether the mass shooting that took the lives of five people and injured 17 others could have been avoided had the judge not dismissed the case entirely.

Also Read| Chesapeake Walmart massacre: 31st mass shooting in US in 22 days, 605th this year

Around 305 charges have been levied against Aldrich, including charges of murder and hate crime.