On Saturday, Nov. 20, a 22-year-old man entered Club Q, and immediately opened fire; killing five people and harming 25 others. During this act of violence, two people inside of the club retaliated against the gunman and stopped any further actions; an army veteran, and a drag performer: drag performers are men that dress up as women and perform on stage by lip singing to a song of their choice. Police are investigating whether or not this act is considered a hate crime. Despite the formalities, this attack is still a violation against an unrepresented community.
In an interview administered by CNN, Club Q bartender Micheal Anderson discusses the horrific act he witnessed and the heroic acts conducted by the two people who stood up against the shooter.
“I saw what I believe was probably the gunman lying on the ground, getting beat up and kicked and yelled at by two very brave people who I still don’t know the identity of those two people,” Anderson said. “I hope I can find out [their identities] one day because I truly believe those two people saved my life.”
The suspect has been identified as Anderson Lee Aldrich. Aldrich was taken into custody at 12:02 a.m. and has been treated for injuries he sustained in the counterattack at a local hospital. Aldrich has no public records against him. However, he was arrested for making a bomb and shooting threats toward his mother in June of 2021, charges were not filed in that case.
According to CNN, Aldrich is facing five murder charges and five charges of committing a bias-motivated crime causing bodily injury.
Club Q has always been identified as a safe place for all types of people; including those of the LGBTQ community and any others who need a place to fit in. Within the six minutes it took for the shooting to occur, the reputation had been completely shattered. The attack has left many LGBTQ members in Colorado terrified and shell-shocked.
Higher government powers have expressed their devastation by the anti-LGBTQ movement and have announced the need for higher protection and support levels for members of the queer community.
Included in this is president Joe Biden; he urged congress to pass the Equality Act, which would ban any discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.
“While no motive in this attack is yet clear, we know that the LGBTQI+ community has been subjected to horrific hate violence in recent years,” Biden said in a written statement. “Gun violence continues to have a devastating and particular impact on LGBTQI+ communities across our nation and threats of violence are increasing.
On top of that, Colorado governor, Jared Polis, a Democrat and the nation’s first openly gay govenor issued a statement Sunday calling the attack “horrific, sickening and devastating”.
On Club Q’s Facebook page, they called the shooting a “hate attack” and that people at the club subdued the attacker. They ended their statement by thanking the valiant people who stood up against the shooter.
According to FOX21, Aldrich’s court date is Dec. 6, during which, charges will be formally charged.
