Club Q shooting suspect, Anderson Lee Aldrich, has been charged with 12 new felony counts.
Content warning: This story may include topics that could make some readers feel uncomfortable.
On 19 November, Aldrich – who identifies as non-binary – allegedly entered the Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ nightclub at 11:57 pm and opened fire on the establishment’s patrons.
The terrifying attack, which occurred minutes before Transgender Day of Remembrance, resulted in five innocent people killed and 18 individuals wounded.
A month after their arrest, Aldrich was hit with 305 counts, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, assault and bias-motivated crimes.
“We are not going to tolerate actions against community members based on their sexual identity,” said Michael Allen, Colorado’s Fourth Judicial District Attorney, on 6 December.
“Members of that community have been harassed, intimidated and abused for too long.”
Now it looks like Aldrich will face more charges for their alleged crimes.
During their recent court appearance on 13 January, Allen announced 12 additional felony charges against the 22-year-old, which raises the total to 317 (per CNN).
The new counts, which iclude four attempted murder charges and two hate crime charges, were added after the DA identified two more victims from the horrific incident.
According to an additional report from the Colorado-based station 11 News, Aldrich’s lawyer’s attempted to object to the new charges due to them being “completely and totally overwhelmed” with the previously submitted evidence.
In response, District Judge Michael McHenry shut down their requests stating: “Stop making arguments about your own ineffectiveness… You’re going to be here and hear what every witness has to say.”
The recent updates in the ongoing Club Q shooting case come a week after the nightclub’s administrator announced plans for a reopening later this year.
“Club Q is different than most gay bars. You’ll find your tribe there, you’ll start to build that chosen family. I think, or one of the hardest parts is not only losing friends and chosen family members and valued members of the community but losing our home building,” Michael Anderson explained to 9News.
“I don’t want to live in a state of tragedy forever. At some point, I want this story to turn into overcoming tragedy and what that’s going to look like. We have a whole village right now surrounding us with support.”
Aldrich’s next court appearance is set to take place on 22 February.
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