Five killed and several injured in mass-shooting at LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado.

At least five people have been killed in a shooting at Colorado LGBTQ+ nightclub Club Q, with at least twenty-five others injured. 

An attacker opened fire in the club just before midnight on Saturday night (19th November) following a drag show event. Colorado Mayor John Suthers confirmed that police were called at 23:57 and arrived at the scene minutes later.

Amongst the casualties were Club Q bartenders Daniel Davis Aston and Derrick Rump, who was shot dead during the attack. As reported by CNN, twenty-five people were left injured from the incident, with nineteen of them sustaining gunshot wounds – all of which are expected to survive.

22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich remains in police custody and is being treated for injuries. 

Two punters heroically confronted Aldrich, who was equipped with body armour and managed to subdue and detain him. According to the New York Times, Mayor Suthers said one of the people who stopped the suspect grabbed a handgun from him and proceeded to hit him with it. 

Suthers says both individuals appeared to have “taken his handgun and used it to disable him” but did not shoot, instead “hit him with the gun and disable him.” He added: “But for that, as tragic as this incident is, it could have been much, much worse but for these heroic actors,”

Police are investigating whether the attack was a hate crime and are considering Club Q’s relationship with the LGBTQ+ community. 

The attack happened on Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual observance that has taken place since 1999 to honour transgender people killed by anti-transgender violence.

Club Q has now issued a statement on social media, stating: “Club Q is in shock, and in deep mourning, with the family and friends who had loved ones senselessly taken from them. We condemn the horrific violence that shattered an evening of celebration for all in the LGBTQ community of Colorado Springs and our allies.”

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An investigation is underway into the suspected attacker, who was previously brought to police attention when he threatened his mother with a homemade bomb in 2021. His mother allegedly called the police when he threatened to harm her with “a homemade bomb, multiple weapons, and ammunition.”

Awful scenes in Colorado, amidst a global focus on several aspects of gender and sexuality-focused rights. Our thoughts are with those involved, their friends and their families at this difficult time.