Club Q Shooting

What happened? 

On November 19, 2022, 22-year-old gunman, Anderson Lee Aldrich, entered an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs and opened fire, killing at least five people and injuring 25 others. In this shooting, he used an AR-15 semi-automatic weapon and also a handgun, and was wearing a military-style jacket. There were at least two people who confronted the gunman, and many people thanked them. The police were investigating whether the attack was a hate crime. 

Responses: 

Governor Jared Polis ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff to honour the victims of this mass shooting. Club Q later responded, saying they were devastated, but also thankful that the people stopped the gunman in time to prevent further damage. Club Q said they would be preparing to reopen the club. Many people in the LGBTQ community were devastated. 

Significance:

This attack has deeply saddened the LGBTQ community because they previously saw Club Q as a safe place to connect with others. The attack stunned the local community in Colorado Springs and reminded people of the 2016 massacre of a similar nightclub in Orlando, Florida. 

Testimonies:

One witness said that he was inside the club when he heard gunshots. He initially thought it was music, but then the gunshots kept going, so he ran into the dressing room and called the police immediately. When he came out, he saw bodies strewn about he grown, broken glass, and blood. Another witness says that they thought there were multiple people shooting when the shooter came into the club, due to the mere number of wounded or dead.