Five people were killedand at least 18 others were injured after a lone gunman stormed an LGBTQ nightclub shortly before midnight Saturday andshot at unsuspecting patrons.
According to authorities, 22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich allegedly used a long rifle and opened fire at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colo., on the eve of Transgender Day of Remembrance.
During a press conference Sunday, Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez confirmed that “at leasttwo heroic peopleinside the club confronted and fought with the suspect and were able to stop the suspect from continuing to kill and harm others.”
Kelly Loving, Raymond Green, Ashley Paugh, Daniel Davis Aston and Derrick Rump.Colorado Springs Police Department
Citing court records,The New York Timesreports Aldrich faces five preliminary charges each of murder and bias-motivated crime causing bodily injury.
Daniel Davis Aston, 28
Daniel Aston.Facebook
Club Q bartender Daniel Davis Aston was a born performer,his mom told the Associated Press, saying that he loved to make people laugh and wear elaborate costumes, and write plays.
Daniel’s mom, Sabrina Aston, confirmed his death withABC News,The Denver Postand theAssociated Press.
“It’s just unbelievable,” Sabrina Aston toldThe Post. “He had so much more life to give to us, and to all his friends and to himself.”
Daniel came out as transgender to his mother as a teenager and then became president of the LGBTQ club at his college, Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla., Sabrina told the AP.
“We are in shock, we cried for a little bit, but then you go through this phase where you are just kind of numb, and I’m sure it will hit us again,” she said, according to the AP. “I keep thinking it’s a mistake, they made a mistake, and that he is really alive,” she added.
Derrick Rump, 38
Derrick Rump.Facebook
A second bartender and co-owner of the bar, Derrick Rump, was also killed in the shooting,CBS Newsreports.
Rump’s friend, Anthony Jaramillo, confirmed his death to the outlet.
“Loving, supportive, with a heavy hand in his drink pouring, and just a really good listener and would not be afraid to tell you when you were wrong instead of telling you what you wanted to hear, and that was really valuable,” Jaramillo said.
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Tiara Latrice Kelley, a performer at Club Q toldThe Colorado Springs GazetteRump was “all about keeping people happy.”
Rump’s friend Sky Lay, described him as “one of the sweetest, funniest, quirkiest smart asses you’d ever want to meet,” according toThe Colorado Sun.
Kelly Loving, 40
Kelly Loving.Facebook
Clubgoer Kelly Loving was identified as one of the victims inthe shooting at Club Q, her sister Tiffany Loving confirmed withABC News.
“I had just got off the phone with her that same day,” Tiffany said, per the outlet. “We had video calls that same day. She was a kind person, she was loving, always fighting for people.”
According toThe Times, Kelly, a transgender woman, was visiting from Denver.
Tiffany also confirmed her sister’s death in a Facebook post Sunday, writing in part, “imma [sic] miss you so much sis I’m just sitting here in disbelieve [sic] you was so giving and caring you had a mouth on u [sic] but it runs in the family.”
She added, “rip [sic] sis imma [sic] always be ur [sic] keeper.”
Ashley Paugh, 35
Ashley Paugh.Colorado Springs Police Department
Ashley Paugh’s sister Stephanie Clark toldNBC Newsthat Paugh was a loving mother with an 11-year-old daughter.
“It just doesn’t seem real,” Clark said, NBC News reported. “We’re heartbroken. We’re sad. We’re mad, angry.”
Clark said Paugh was not a member of the LGBTQ community, but was in Colorado Springs for a day trip with a friend.
“Nothing will ever be the same without her,” Clark said, NBC News reported. “Right now, I don’t want to laugh. She was a loving, caring person who would do anything for anybody. We’re gonna miss her so much.”
Raymond Green
Raymond Green Vance.Colorado Springs Police Department
“With an incredibly heavy and broken heart we lost Raymond, who had been a part of our lives since our daughter was in high school,” the post reads in part. “Raymond was Kassy’s boyfriend. We are going to miss him and his bright smile so much. We are going through a lot of emotions as a family and as a brewery. The loss of lives and the injured are in our hearts. We are devastated and torn. We love our#lgbtqcommunity and stand with them.”
source: people.com
