In several formal motions filed on behalf of Anderson Lee Aldrich on Tuesday, public defenders refer to the suspect as “Mx. Aldrich,” noting in footnotes that Aldrich, 22, is non-binary and uses their pronouns. The motions are about issues such as the unsealing of documents and the collection of evidence, not Aldrich’s identity, and there was no clarification on that. Aldrich, who was beaten by patrons during Saturday night’s shooting at Club Q, was scheduled to appear in court for the first time Wednesday via video from jail. A motive for the shooting was still under investigation, but authorities said Aldrich faces possible murder and hate crime charges. Hate crime charges would require proof that the gunman was motivated by bias, such as for the victims’ actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. The charges against Aldrich are preliminary and prosecutors have yet to file formal charges. Aldrich is represented by Joseph Arsamboli, a trial attorney for the state attorney general’s office. The office’s lawyers do not comment on cases to the media. It was also revealed Tuesday that Aldrich’s name was changed more than six years ago as a teenager after he filed a legal petition in Texas to “protect” himself from a father with a criminal record including domestic violence against Aldrich’s mother. Aldrich, who faces murder and hate crime charges, was known as Nicholas Franklin Brink until 2016. Weeks before he turned 16, Aldrich filed with a Texas court for a name change, court records show. The name change was petitioned on Brink’s behalf by their grandparents, who were their legal guardians at the time. “The minor wishes to protect himself and his future from any association with his father and his criminal history. The father has not had any contact with a minor for several years,” said the complaint filed in Bexar County, Texas. The suspect’s father is a mixed martial artist and porn performer with an extensive criminal record, including battery convictions against the alleged perpetrator’s mother, Laura Voepel, both before and after the suspect was born, state court records show. and federal court. A 2002 misdemeanor conviction in California led to a protective order that initially barred the father, Aaron F. Brink, from contacting the suspect or Voepel except through an attorney, but was later modified to allow supervised visits with the child. The father was also sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for importing marijuana, and while on supervision he violated his terms by testing positive for illegal steroids, according to public records. Brink could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Aldrich’s request for a name change came months after Aldrich was apparently the target of cyberbullying. A website posted from June 2015 attacking a teenager named Nick Brink suggests they may have been bullied in high school. The post included photos similar to those of the murder suspect and mocked Brink for their weight, lack of money and what he said was an interest in Chinese cartoons. In addition, a YouTube account was opened in Brink’s name that included an animation entitled “Asian Gay Being Harassed.” The name change and bullying were first reported by the Washington Post. Aldrich was confronted and beaten by bar patrons during the attack that left 17 others with gunshot wounds. Aldrich faces five counts of murder and five counts of committing a bias crime causing bodily harm, online court records showed. Aldrich was released from the hospital and was being held in the El Paso County Jail, police said. Aldrich was arrested last year after their mother reported her child threatened her with a homemade bomb and other weapons. Doorbell video obtained by The Associated Press shows Aldrich arriving at their mother’s front door with a large black bag on the day of the 2021 bomb threat, telling her the police were nearby and adding, “Here I stand. Today I die.” Authorities at the time said no explosives were found, but gun control advocates questioned why police didn’t use Colorado’s “red flag” laws to seize the guns Aldrich’s mother says her child had. . The weekend attack took place at a nightclub known as a haven for the LGBTQ community in this mostly conservative city of about 480,000 people, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) south of Denver. A longtime Club Q patron who was shot in the back and thigh said the club’s reputation made it a target. Speaking in a video statement released by UC Health Memorial Hospital, Ed Sanders said he thought about what he would do in a mass shooting after the 2016 massacre of 49 people at Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. “I think this incident highlights the fact that LGBT people need to be loved,” said Sanders, 63. “I want to be resilient. I am a survivor. I’m not going to be taken out sick.” Court documents detailing Aldrich’s arrest were sealed at the request of prosecutors. Local and federal authorities declined to answer questions about why hate crime charges were being considered. Prosecutor Michael Allen noted that the murder charges will carry the harshest sentence – life in prison – while the bias crimes are eligible for probation. He also said it is important to show the community that bias-motivated crimes will not be tolerated. The attack was stopped by two club patrons, including Richard Fierro, who told reporters he took a handgun from Aldrich, hit them with it and pinned them down with the help of another person. The victims were Raymond Green Vance, 22, a Colorado Springs native who was saving up to get his own apartment. Ashley Paugh, 35, a mother who helped find homes for foster children. Daniel Aston, 28, who had worked at the club as a barman and entertainer. Kelly Loving, 40, whose sister described her as “caring and sweet”. and Derrick Rabb, 38, another club bartender known for his wit.
Bedayn is a member of the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative corps. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places reporters in local newsrooms to report on undercover issues.
Associated Press reporters Bernard Condon in New York, Colleen Slevin in Denver, Jake Bleiberg in Dallas, Amy Forliti in Minneapolis, Matthew Brown in Billings, Montana, Jill Bleed in Little Rock, Arkansas, Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles and news reporter Rhonda Shafner from New York contributed.
