Colorado Springs gunman appears in court

Gunman faces murder and hate crime charges for deadly shooting

Mourners stand outside Colorado Springs City Hall. Getty Images / AFP

A gunman opened fire in a Colorado Springs nightclub on November 19, killing five and injuring 25. Getty Images / AFP

Hundreds rallied outside the courthouse to recognise the victims and comfort each other. Getty Images / AFP

Club Q co-owner Nic Grzecka is embraced by mourners outside Colorado Springs City Hall. Getty Images / AFP

Supporters of Club Q embrace outside city hall. AP

The crowd listens to speakers outside city hall. AP

There were many tears for the victims from friends, families and a lot of supportive strangers. AP

Nic Grezcka, co-owner of Club Q, hugs a patron outside city hall. AP

The alleged gunman faces possible hate crime charges. AP

Investigators continue to collect evidence after a mass shooting at Club Q. AP

The gunman was released from hospital on Tuesday. AP

Photographs of the victims of the mass shooting make up part of a makeshift memorial near the club. AP

Preliminary charges against the gunman include five counts of first-degree murder and five counts of a bias-motivated crime – elsewhere called a hate crime – causing bodily injury, per El Paso County Court’s online docket. AP

A mass shooting is defined as an incident with at least four killed or injured, not including the gunman. AP

Richard Fierro consoles his daughter, Kassandra, whose boyfriend, Raymond Green Vance, was among those killed. Mr Fierro, a US Army veteran, is credited with subduing the gunman. Getty Images / AFP

Mr Fierro consoles his daughter, Kassandra, as she mourns her boyfriend at the memorial outside of Club Q. Getty Images / AFP

Artist Paes164 paints a mural at his art gallery and lounge in Colorado Springs. Reuters

Latisha Hardy and daughter Yvonne Shepherd write notes in chalk on the sidewalk at the memorial. Reuters

Shooting survivor Ed Sanders says he is resilient and won't be 'taken out by some sick person'. AP

James Slaugh suffered a bullet wound to his shoulder during the mass shooting. AP

Dallas Dutka says a prayer for her cousin Daniel Aston who was killed in the shooting. AP

The US has recorded more than 600 mass shootings so far this year, the Gun Violence Archive reported. Getty Images / AFP

Raymond Green Vance was celebrating a birthday at the club when he was killed. AP

Victim Kelly Loving was described by her sister as loving, caring and sweet. AP

Victim Ashley Paugh had a young daughter and worked with a non-profit that helped foster children. EPA

Derrick Rump was a bartender at Club Q. EPA

Daniel Aston, the bar's supervisor, moved to Colorado Springs two years ago to be closer to his mother and father. EPA

Mr Fierro said that he does not consider himself a hero and was merely thinking of saving his family when he tackled the gunman. AP

The gunman in the mass shooting that killed five and wounded 17 at a Colorado Springs LGBTQ nightclub appeared before a judge via video link from jail on Wednesday.

Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, had been in hospital since their arrest on Sunday morning.

The advisement hearing took place via video link, with the jailed defendant appearing in handcuffs and a jail uniform.

During the shooting, the gunman was tackled by Richard Fierro, a decorated war veteran who fought in both Iraq and Afghanistan, in a successful effort to stop further bloodshed at Club Q in Colorado's second-largest city.

The defendant was seen slumped in a wheelchair, displaying facial injuries and appeared to have difficulty speaking.

Defence lawyers with the Colorado State Public Defender's office said in court filings on Tuesday that the defendant identifies as non-binary, prefers they/them pronouns and will be referred to in court filings with the “Mx” honorific.

El Paso County District Attorney Michael Allen said that would have no bearing on how he would prosecute the case, including whether to charge Mx Aldrich with hate crimes.

Police initially held Mx Aldrich on charges of five counts of first-degree murder and bias crimes stemming from the Saturday night shooting spree.

Those charges were not discussed in the brief hearing, during which defence lawyers asked to receive a copy of the arrest warrant.

Mr Allen said after the hearing that he expected to file formal criminal charges before the defendant's next court hearing, tentatively scheduled for December 6.

In the meantime, Mr Allen said his office would continue to ask that Mx Aldrich be held without bail.

Reuters contributed to this report