Police are asking anyone in the community who might have been a victim or has information about a potential victim, or might have seen something, has information about this incident, to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (or 1-800-225-5324).
Police said the suspected shooter is still in custody at a local hospital.
Police did not shoot the suspect, Castro added. At least two people at the club stopped the gunman and wrestled weapons away from him. Police identified the two individuals as Richard Fierro and Thomas James.
“We owe them a great debt of thanks,” Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez said.
Club Q, in a Facebook post, said “We thank the quick reactions of heroic customers that subdued the gunman and ended this hate attack.”
Police identified the suspect as Anderson Lee Aldrich, a 22-year-old. The suspect used a long rifle during the shooting. Multiple firearms were found at the scene. Law enforcement is still working to identify who the firearms belonged to.
Aldrich was arrested in 2021 for a reported bomb threat in the Lorson Ranch neighborhood. KRDO reported at the time that Aldrich was facing charges for two counts of felony menacing and three counts of first-degree kidnapping. The charges were dismissed after Aldrich's mother — who called police to report the bomb threat — did not cooperate with the investigation, KDVR reported.
During the Monday press conference, officials say they could not yet discuss previous incidents involving Aldrich, as they are part of an ongoing investigation. Officials also clarified that no formal charges have been filed and the investigation is still active.
According to Aldrich's defense attorneys, Aldrich identifies as nonbinary.
The first 911 call about the Club Q shooting came in at 11:56 p.m. Police found the suspect inside the club, which Castro described as a "safe haven" in the community.
Joshua Thurman, who lives in Colorado Springs, told media Sunday morning that he was inside the club when the shooting started.
When the shooting started, Thurman initially thought the repeated gunshots were part of the music. But after he saw the muzzle flash, he hid in the club's dressing room with two other people. Thurman said he could hear other patrons of the club subdue the gunman before police arrived. Once first responders showed up, Thurman crawled out of the dressing room on his stomach.
"No one deserves this," Thurman said through tears.