Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has arrested an individual called Anderson Lee Aldrich as the chief suspect of the mass shooting at Colorado’s Club Q that left five dead and more than 18 people injured.
While the club has called the massacre a hate crime, the CSPD has not yet identified a motive for the shooting.
Who is Anderson Lee Aldrich?
Anderson Lee Aldrich is a 22-year-old individual who has been arrested by the Colorado Springs Police Department on suspicion of carrying out the shooting at a Colorado LGBTQ nightclub called Club Q that has left 5 people dead.
Adrian Vasquez, the CSPD police chief, said that Aldrich entered the establishment and immediately started shooting. He is believed to have used a long rifle.
Two patrons present inside the nightclub confronted Aldrich and took him down, preventing any further loss of life.
When it was first reported that the suspect has been arrested, a police official said, “They did locate one individual who we believe to be the suspect inside. At this point in time, the suspect is being treated, but is in custody.”
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CPR reports that a similarly named individual was arrested in El Paso, Texas and was even booked in the El Paso jail for threatening his own mother with bombs. Said individual was also involved in a standoff with the El Paso police officials after this incident. However, it is yet confirmed whether both the accused in these incidents are one and the same person.
Some experts are of the opinion that “red flag” laws of Colorado should have been set in motion since Aldrich had threatened his mother earlier using violent means. This would have led to his weapons being seized.
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AP reports that Rep. Tom Sullivan said regarding the issue, “We need heroes beforehand — parents, co-workers, friends who are seeing someone go down this path”.
