Echoes of 2016’s Pulse massacre were felt around the country and the world on Saturday, when a gunman entered an LGBTQ+ club in Colorado and went on yet another mass-shooting rampage that killed multiple queer and trans patrons and injured dozens more.
While it’s difficult to engage with any senseless act of violence, particularly one that directly targets marginalized communities, it’s also vital to acknowledge the dangerous and fast-spreading right-wing rhetoric that has attempted to criminalize drag performances and paint LGBTQ+ individuals as “groomers.” Below, find out what happened at Club Q in Colorado on Saturday, and what you can do to help.
Where was the shooting?
The shooting took place on the evening of Saturday, November 19, at Club Q, an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado Springs; the shooter killed at least five people and wounded at least 25 others before someone in the club grabbed his handgun and hit him with it, subduing him. Two patrons then pinned the gunman down until police arrived, according to the club’s owners, who reviewed security footage.
Who is the alleged shooter?
The suspect has been identified as Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, who has yet to be formally charged. However, it has been confirmed that Aldrich was arrested in June 2021 in connection with a bomb threat; he is reportedly the grandson of California assemblyman Randy Voepel, a Republican from the San Diego area.
Is the shooting being investigated as a hate crime?
As of Monday, investigators have not announced a potential motive or determined whether the shooting can be prosecuted as a hate crime, but El Paso County District Attorney Michael Allen said charges brought against the suspect “will likely include first-degree murder.”
How can I help support the victims’ families and survivors of the shooting?
If you’re looking for ways to honor the memories of the victims—who include 28-year-old Club Q bartender Daniel Aston and 40-year-old Denver local Kelly Loving—you can donate to this verified campaign to raise funds for the victims’ families (as well as survivors of the shooting).
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