Discussion Set to Address Allegations of Media Leak Regarding Suspect’s Past Threats
A judge is scheduled to review whether authorities should face penalties after media outlets obtained sealed documents detailing allegations against the suspect in the Colorado gay nightclub shooting. These documents reportedly reveal that Anderson Aldrich had previously expressed intentions to be “the next mass killer.”
Aldrich, charged with the November shooting that left five dead and 17 injured at Club Q in Colorado Springs, is represented by lawyers who accuse the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office of leaking information from an earlier sealed case. They are seeking a contempt ruling against the sheriff’s office, asking for a $10,000 fine and mandatory training on record sealing laws.
In response, the sheriff’s office contends that Aldrich’s legal team has not provided evidence that it was responsible for the leak, suggesting instead that courthouse staff might be the source of the information. The office has requested dismissal of the contempt motion.
In 2021, Aldrich, who identifies as nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, was arrested following threats made against their grandparents. Reports indicated that Aldrich had become agitated over the grandparents’ plans to relocate, which interfered with their alleged intentions to amass firearms, ammunition, body armour, and a homemade explosive. Aldrich allegedly threatened, “You guys die today and I’m taking you with me. I’m loaded and ready.”
Charges from the 2021 incident were eventually dropped after the grandparents declined to cooperate with prosecutors. The court documents were sealed according to a state law designed to protect individuals from the repercussions of dismissed cases.
Despite the sealing, Colorado Springs television station KKTV acquired documents outlining the allegations against Aldrich, which were later authenticated by a law enforcement official who remained anonymous due to the sensitivity of the case.
Following the publication of an Associated Press article highlighting the dropped case as a significant warning sign in the context of mass violence, Judge Robin Chittum unsealed the documents last month. This decision came at the request of the sheriff’s office, the district attorney’s office, and a coalition of media organisations, including the AP. Judge Chittum stated that the public interest in the case outweighed concerns for Aldrich’s privacy rights.
