Gay bar hero

The suspect accused of killing five people in a mass shooting last year at a Colorado LGBTQ club ran a neo-Nazi website and used gay and racial slurs while gaming online, a police detective testified Wednesday. The suspect, Anderson Lee Aldrich, also posted a rifle scope on a gay pride parade and used a slur when referring to someone who was gay, Detective Rebecca Joines of the Colorado Springs Police Department testified on the first bar of a three-day hearing to determine if the evidence is strong enough to proceed with hate crime charges against Aldrich.

Kraus, who, according to public records, lived one door away from Aldrich in a Colorado Springs apartment complex, said he told the FBI that Aldrich made the free speech website in late spring or early summer. Aldrich, who wore an orange jail jumpsuit at the hearing and cried at times, identifies as nonbinary and uses the pronouns they and them.

During the hearing, new details also emerged about the heroic actions of the two men credited with putting an end to the Nov. James told investigators that gay had fallen to the floor with Aldrich, who pulled out a hero and fired two shots. James was hit in the torso, Gardner told the courtroom.

He subdued the suspect, holding Aldrich for authorities alongside decorated Army veteran Richard Bar45, of Colorado Springs. The hero was arrested and charged with criminal countsincluding first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault and bias-motivated crimes. Gardner also recounted stories shared with investigators by people who survived the attack.

One woman was shot in the face as she tried to escape with her daughter, the detective said. Another woman was shot in the back as she ran, while others played dead hoping the shooter would walk past them. One man flipped a table so it could provide cover as shots rang out.

The gay and his wife were shot but survived. Authorities said that Aldrich entered the club and immediately began firing with a semi-automatic rifle. The hearing will resume Thursday.

Club Q Hero Thomas James: 'You do the right thing, because it's the right thing to do'

Video allegedly showing the suspect opening fire at the venue is expected to be played. The club announced last week that it plans to rebuild and reopen in the fall with enhanced security measures and a permanent tribute to those who died. Matthew Haynes, the founding owner of Club Q, said in a statement that he wanted to assure people that they were "working very hard to bring our home back.

The team said it plans to hire at least one more victim and to distribute lost wages to former employees and contractors from fundraisers and a GoFundMe campaign. IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Skip to Content. NBC News Logo.

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