Colorado shooting suspect ordered to be held without bail during his first court appearance
a colorado the judge ordered the suspect accused of shooting to death five people at a gay nightclub without bail on Wednesday, during the defendant’s first court appearance.
The public got their first look at 22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich, who made a virtual appearance from jail before Fourth Judicial District Court Judge Charlotte Ankeny.
Aldrich wore a sleeveless jailhouse gown during the court hearing, while appearing to be sitting in a wheelchair in jail. The defendant, who public defenders identified as a non-binary person who uses they/them pronouns, appeared lethargic, his head tilted to the right.
Aldrich was barely audible when the judge asked him to confirm identity.
Aldrich was released from a hospital and transferred to jail on Tuesday, authorities said. The accused shooter was treated for injuries sustained while disarmed by club attendees.
The extent of the suspect’s injuries is unclear.
In addition to holding the defendant without bail during the brief hearing in El Paso County, Ankeny also ordered prosecutors to share the sealed warrant material with Aldrich’s defense attorneys.
“I will deliver the affidavit to the defense attorney and his investigator with a current protection order so that it is not disclosed further,” he ruled.
The judge set Aldrich’s next hearing for December 6, but that could still change, he said, since one of the defendant’s lawyers could be on trial that day.
It’s been almost four days since five people were murdered at Club Q.
Aldrich has been charged with five counts of first-degree murder and five counts of allegedly committing those crimes as part of a bias attack.
The suspect is accused of entering a Colorado Springs LGBTQ club Saturday night with a high-powered rifle and opening fire.
The carnage could have been worse were it not for the swift action of 45-year-old Army veteran Richard Fierro and another person who jumped Aldrich. to stop the shotsthe officials said.
Aldrich’s defense attorneys filed routine court papers for their client this week, referring to the suspect as “Mx. Aldrich.”