A suspect accused of killing five people at an LGBTQ nightclub in the US has been charged with murder, hate crimes and assault.

Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, is accused of storming Club Q in Colorado Springs on 19 November during a drag queen’s birthday celebration.

During a hearing at El Paso District Court today, he sat upright in a chair and appeared alert.

Police and witnesses said a suspect barged into the club with a rifle and a handgun and opened fire indiscriminately.

Another 22 people suffered gunshot wounds or other injuries.

Two men with military backgrounds – Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran Richard Fierro, and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas James – subdued the suspect until police arrived.

Mr Fierro told reporters that he disarmed the suspect and pistol-whipped him into submission.

In his custody photograph Aldrich has bruises to his face and neck.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Aldrich faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole.

If his case remains at state level, he will not face the death penalty as Colorado no longer has that on its statute book.

However, he could still face a death sentence in federal court if prosecutors decide to charge him with crimes under the US code.

Related posts:

Studies under way into whether third dose of coronavirus vaccine would help immunity Outrage over video showing US police officers scream at and handcuff five-year-old boy Barack Obama’s ‘granny’ and family matriarch dies in Kenyan hospital More than 150 hospital workers lose their jobs after refusing to get COVID-19 vaccine Cyclist seriously injured in alligator attack after falling down embankment in Florida Harvey Weinstein extradited to California to face more sexual assault charges ‘This is just the beginning’ – Biden imposes new Cuba sanctions after protests crackdown Five arrested after US congresswoman carjacked at gunpoint Former England striker Daniel Sturridge ordered to pay $30,000 to man who found his missing dog Menthol cigarettes could be banned in the US amid fears over young people lighting up Brother of murdered Briton David Haines tells IS ‘Beatle’ killer: ‘I forgive you’ US Olympic basketball star ‘wrongfully detained’ in Russian jail