The suspect last month Deadly rampage at Colorado LGBTQ nightclub was He was charged Tuesday with 305 criminal charges Officials said it may be the most heavily prosecuted homicide case in state history.
Charges filed against Anderson Lee Aldrich include first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault and bias-motivated crimes, District Attorney Michael Allen told the court.
Aldrich is suspected of killing five people and wounding 17 others Club K on November 19 in Colorado Springs. Five others were injured but not by gunfire. Another 12 people died without any injuries, police said.
Allen said he could not recall a homicide trial with multiple counts.
“As far as I know, I think this is the most felony charge we’ve ever filed in a homicide case like this in the state of Colorado,” Allen told reporters after the hearing. “But maybe. Others out there that I’m not thinking about now.”
Attorneys for both sides asked the judge to schedule Aldrich’s preliminary hearing for May.
“We both have a lot of commitments already, which makes it very difficult to get one scheduled for early spring,” defense attorney Joseph Archambault told the court.
Allen cited his own busy trial schedule and said defense attorneys need time to go through all the evidence against their client.
Allen, on March 17, is scheduled to begin A high profile murder investigation of Letcia Stache WHO Accused Murder of 11-year-old stepson Cannon Stach Disappeared in January 2020.
“We expect this case to be very large (and) the defense (attorneys) will need some time to digest it and be ready to present evidence at the preliminary hearing,” Allen told the court.
But 4th Judicial District Judge Michael McHenry insisted the trial could begin soon, saying he expected two days for both sides to be ready for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 22.
“I would be surprised if there was a real jury trial sometime in 2023,” Allen later told reporters. “I suspect it will be a little later than that.”
Aldrich, dressed in a fluorescent lime jail uniform, appeared attentive throughout the hearing and sat with defense attorneys.
Tuesday’s pretrial hearing was the first time the public saw Aldrich When from November 23 The 22-year-old made an initial court appearance.
The suspect appeared lethargic that day and struggled to sit upright in a wheelchair after being severely beaten by club patrons who fought back during the shooting.
Booking mugshots showed numerous cuts across the suspect’s face, a black, swollen left eye and a gash behind his left ear. Aldrich is Non-binary and uses the pronouns they/them.
“In the first setting, the suspect’s demeanor and body were very different than today,” Allen said after the hearing.
The suspect “entered the courtroom today (and) the bruising on (Aldrich’s) face from the last session appears to have healed somewhat.”
Witnesses credit the swift action Army veteran Richard Fierro, 45, And Naval Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas James For pouncing on the gunman and controlling the carnage.
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