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Gay Nightclub Shooting Suspect Is Grandson Of GOP State Legislator

(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Nicole Silverio Media Reporter
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The suspect who allegedly opened fire inside an LGBTQ nightclub Saturday is reportedly the grandson of a Republican state representative in California.

The suspect, 22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich, is the grandson of Republican California state Rep. Randy Voepel, who represents the 71st Assembly district that covers the San Diego and Riverside counties, according to the Denver Gazette. He serves as the vice chair of the Military and Veterans Affairs, Aging and Long-Term Care, and Public Employment and Retirement committees.

Veopel served as the mayor of Santee, California, when two students died and eleven others were injured in a 2001 shooting at the city’s Santana High School, the outlet reported. The representative’s daughter, Laura — the mother of Aldrich — has publicly honored her father on Facebook. In one post, she wrote, “Keep up the good work Dad. You work hard to improve our lives and a lot of us take notice.”

Veopel’s grandson is facing preliminary murder and hate crime charges after allegedly killing five people and injuring at least 25 others after entering Club Q in Colorado Springs on Saturday night and opening fire into a crowd of attendees. (RELATED: Media Baselessly Blames Savage Gay Club Attack On Tucker Carlson, Criticism Of Drag Shows For Kids) 

In June 2021, Aldrich was the subject of an investigation into a bomb threat at his mother’s home, according to an El Paso County press release. Authorities arrived at Laura’s home, placed the neighborhood under an evacuation order and ordered the alleged suspect to exit the home.

Aldrich initially refused to comply with police for several minutes but eventually walked out the front door and was placed under arrest, the press release said. The district attorney’s office in Colorado did not appear to press charges against him at the time.