Colorado Gay Nightclub Mass Shooting Suspect Appears Bruised in Court
2 min read(The Epoch Times)
The suspect accused of shooting five people at a gay nightclub in Colorado has appeared in court this week, displaying multiple bruises to his face.
Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, faces five counts of first-degree murder and five charges of committing a bias-motivated crime causing bodily injury after he opened fire on dozens of people at the Club Q nightclub, leaving 17 others with gunshot wounds.
In a statement on Monday, the Colorado Springs Police Department had said that a photograph of Aldrich was not available because remained in custody at a local hospital as he was also injured in the shooting.
On Wednesday, officials released a mugshot of the suspect just a few hours after he appeared before 4th Judicial District Court Judge Charlotte Anken via a virtual appearance from his jail in El Paso County.
The pictures show Aldrich wearing a bright yellow vest as he looks first into the camera and then to the side. The suspect’s face and neck can be seen covered in what appears to be bright purple and black bruises, while his left eye looks swollen.
The thick purple bruise appears to run down past the suspect’s ear and onto his neck.
A screenshot taken from his court appearance shows Aldrich slumped over in a wheelchair and looking dazed.
Police Praise Hero Bystanders
It is unclear how the suspect sustained the injuries to his face and neck; however, police on Monday revealed that he had been taken down by two heroic bystanders during the shooting at the Club Q nightclub.
In a statement, officials named the two individuals as Thomas James and Richard Fierro, a decorated Army veteran.
“Their exact actions are part of the investigation, so we can’t discuss the specifics out of respect for the judicial process, but with their permission, we want to acknowledge their heroic actions,” police said.
Fierro told The New York Times that he had been at the club with his wife, daughter, and friends on Saturd
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