COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After being convicted of the fatal shooting of five people at a local LGBTQ+ club, Anderson Aldrich appeared in federal court to face over 70 charges related to hate crimes and firearm violations. Court records indicate that Aldrich is expected to plead guilty to all charges in exchange for avoiding the death penalty. This comes after Aldrich previously pleaded guilty to local murder and attempted murder charges, resulting in five consecutive life sentences and an additional 2,208 years in prison.
The Department of Justice released a statement alleging that the shooting was motivated by the victims’ sexual orientation and gender identity. Ashtin Gamblin, a survivor of the shooting, expressed her sentiments on the federal charges, questioning their significance without the possibility of the death penalty.
Under the proposed plea agreement, Aldrich could face additional concurrent life sentences and an extra consecutive 190 years in prison. However, Gamblin believes that regardless of the sentence, the impact may not effectively convey the seriousness of the crime.
The plea deal aims to avoid a lengthy trial and potentially mitigate the death penalty process. Michael Anderson, the 4th Judicial District attorney, noted the potential implications of Aldrich’s guilty plea in the federal system.
Following the recent court hearing, Club Q’s V.P. of Operations, Michael Anderson, conveyed his gratitude for the efforts in seeking justice for the tragic event. The U.S. Department of Justice disclosed that both the prosecution and defense are seeking to combine the change of plea hearing and sentencing.
As the litigation continues, Gamblin hopes that the tragedy will prompt reforms in Colorado’s hate crime and bias-motivated laws, which she perceives as insufficiently punitive. However, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Aldrich’s legal representation have refrained from providing additional comments on the ongoing case.