According to testimony presented in court on Wednesday, the suspect charged with killing five people at a Colorado LGBTQ dance party had visited the nightclub at least six times before, including with their mother, but frequently indicated violent intention to hurt gay people.
Over a dozen people were injured when Anderson Aldrich opened fire in Club Q before heroic bystanders stopped him. Aldrich had previously posted racist comments and a video called “wrong target,” which Coronado Springs detective Rebecca Joines described as a “neo-Nazi mass shooter terrorist training video.”
Joines claims the film was not made by Aldrich and points out that it has been shared online by numerous other people. The movie depicts terrorist attacks on synagogues and mosques in Europe, as well as the 2019 shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Joines has stated her belief that Colorado Springs shooter, Eric Aldrich, was inspired by previous mass shootings.
Lauren Peikoff wrote on Twitter:
“Shooting suspect visited Club Q before attack, had rainbow-colored gun target at home, court testimony reveals”
Shooting suspect visited Club Q before attack, had rainbow-colored gun target at home, court testimony reveals https://t.co/gIcbi15siD via @denverpost
— Lauren Peikoff (@laurenpeikoff) February 22, 2023
Joines said a message posted from a Discord account linked to Aldrich showed a rifle scope focused on a person participating in a pride march.
Legal testimony indicates that Aldrich is nonbinary and refers to themselves using the singular they.
Many disturbing aspects of Aldrich’s nasty behaviour in the months preceding the assault on November 19 were discussed at his preliminary court hearing on Wednesday. More than 305 counts, including those based on bias, have been filed against Aldrich in connection with the incident.
To prove Aldrich’s guilt of a hate crime, the prosecution must show that his actions were motivated by prejudice.
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What Went Down At Club Q?
Colorado Springs police officer Connor Wallick stated that upon arriving at the shooting scene, he found Aldrich engaged in a fight with another patron while wearing a ballistic plate carrier containing a grenade and numerous magazines of ammunition.
“I could hear people screaming, crying. I could smell a lot of gunpowder. You could hear the music that was still going,” the officer testified.
Aldrich denied being the gunman as the police officer cuffed them. According to Wallick’s testimony, Aldrich claimed the shooter was hiding and even attempted to blame the man trying to take Aldrich’s gun.
According to Wallick’s testimony, a black rifle based on the AR platform was also discovered near where Aldrich allegedly wrestled with the bar patron.
