Colorado gay club shooting suspect detained without bail

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The shooter, who may have been charged with a hate crime in the death of five people at a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, saw the suspect sitting crouched in a chair during his first court appearance on Wednesday. Therefore, he was ordered to be detained without bail.

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Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, was able to see visible injuries to his face and head in a brief video appearance from prison. When asked by the judge to give his name, he gave a vague answer.

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The suspect was discharged from hospital on Tuesday after being beaten by patrons during a shooting at Club Q on Saturday night. The motive for the shooting is still under investigation, but officials said Aldrich was suspected of murder and a possible hate crime.

Hate crime accusations require proof that the shooter was motivated by prejudice, including prejudice against the victim’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. The charges against Aldrich are preliminary and prosecutors have not yet filed formal charges.

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Defense attorneys said late Tuesday that the suspect is non-binary and in court filings named the suspect as “Mx. Aldrich.” claim to be.

Prosecutor Michael Allen, who repeatedly referred to the suspect as “him” at a post-hearing press conference, said the suspect’s gender status, in his opinion, would not change anything about the case. Aldrich said he had the “physical ability” to stand up to prosecution.

Ankeny has set the next hearing for December 6th.

Officials said 11 of the 17 people with gunshot wounds in the attack remained hospitalized until late Wednesday.

Aldrich’s name was changed more than six years ago as a teenager after he filed a legal petition in Texas seeking to “defend himself” from his father, who had a criminal record, including domestic violence against his mother. I got

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Aldrich was known as Nicholas Franklin Brink until 2016. Just weeks before turning 16, Aldrich successfully petitioned a Texas court to change his name, court records show. A name change petition was filed on Brink’s behalf by his legal guardian at the time.

“Minors want to protect themselves and their futures from ties to their birth father or criminal record. Fathers have not had contact with minors for several years,” Bexar, Texas A petition filed with the county said:

The suspect’s father, Aaron Brink, was a mixed martial arts fighter and pornography performer who was convicted of assaulting the suspect’s mother, Laura Bopel, both before and after the suspect was born. has an extensive criminal record, including According to state and federal court records, a 2002 misdemeanor conviction in California resulted in protections that initially barred Aaron Brink from contacting suspects or Voepel except through an attorney. An order was issued, but later changed to allow supervised visits with children.

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Aaron Brink told CBS affiliate KFMB-TV in San Diego that he was shocked to learn of Aldrich’s alleged involvement. His first reaction was to question why Aldrich was in the gay bar. He added that he was sorry to disappoint Aldrich. No, that’s not the answer.”

One of the suspect’s grandfathers is Randy Voepel, a retired member of the California Legislature. Laura Boepel, the suspect’s mother, identified Randy Boepel as her father on her Facebook page in a post about his time on the 2020 state legislature.

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A Republican, Vopel had a mixed voting record on the LGBTQ bill. He likened the attack on the US Capitol on January 6 to the Revolutionary War, calling it “the first attack on tyranny.” In response to criticism, he later said he “neither condoned nor supported the violence and lawlessness that took place.”

Randy Voepel did not respond to a call for comment. It’s unclear how close he was to the suspect.

Aldrich’s request to change his name comes months after he was apparently the target of online bullying. A post on his website that attacked his teen named Nick Brink, published in June 2015, suggests they may have been bullied in high school. . The post included a photo resembling the shooting suspect and ridiculed Blink for his weight, lack of money and interest in Chinese cartoons.

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In addition, a YouTube account was opened in Brink’s name containing an animation titled “Asian Gays Being Molested”.

Local and federal officials have refused to disclose why the hate crime accusation is being considered. As mentioned, bias offenses are subject to probation. He also said it was important to show the community that crimes based on bigotry will not be tolerated.

Aldrich was arrested last year after a mother reported that her child threatened her with homemade bombs and other weapons, police said. On the day of the notice, Aldrich arrived at his mother’s door with a large black bag, telling her that the police were nearby and saying, “This is where I stand. Today I die.”

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At the time, officials said no explosives were found, but gun control advocates wondered why police didn’t use Colorado’s “red flag” laws to seize the weapon Aldrich was allegedly in. I asked if it was

Allen declined to answer questions related to the 2021 bomb threat after a court hearing Wednesday.

The weekend attacks took place at a nightclub known as a sanctuary for the LGBTQ community in this mostly conservative city of about 480,000 people about 70 miles (110 kilometers) south of Denver.

A longtime patron of Club Q who was shot said the club’s reputation was targeted. After the shooting, he said he thought about what he would do.

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“I think this case highlights the fact that LGBT people need to be loved,” said Sanders, 63. i am a survivor I’m not going to be taken out by a sick person. ”

Authorities said Aldrich used a long rifle and was stopped by two club patrons, including Richard Fierro, who told reporters he snatched a handgun from Aldrich and beat them with it until police arrived. I fixed them with the help of another person until they were done.

The victim was Raymond Green Vance, 22, a Colorado Springs native who was saving up to buy his own apartment. Ashley Paugh, 35 years old. A mother who helped find a home for her foster child. Daniel Aston, 28, used to work in clubs as a bartender and entertainer. Kelly Loving, 40. Her sister described her as “caring and kind”. And Derrick Lamp, 38, is another club bartender known for his wit.

— Kathleen Ronaine, Associated Press, Sacramento; Matthew Brown, Billings, Montana; Amy Hanson, Helena, Montana; Stephanie Dazio, Los Angeles; Adam Beam, Sacramento, Calif.; Bernard Condon, New York; Contributed by Jake Breiburg, news researcher Rhonda Shafner of New York.