Randy Voepel.Photo: Randy Voepel/Twitter
The suspect who allegedly killed five people and injured at least 18 others at anLGBTQ nightclubin Colorado Springs, Colo. is the grandson of a California politician who compared the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol to the American Revolutionary War, according to multiple reports.
TheGazettein Colorado Springs reports the alleged shooter, identified as 22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich, is the grandson of Republican Assemblyman Randy Voepel, who represents parts of San Diego County and Riverside County in California’s 71st Assembly District.
Voepel was a mayor of Santee, Calif., for two decades and lost his Assembly bid for reelection this year,The San Diego Union-Tribunereported.
Police allege the gunman, armed with an AR-15-style rifle and at least one other gun, opened fire on patrons inside Club Q late Saturday evening at about 11:57 p.m. local time.
Owners of the club told theNew York Timesthat the shooter was wearing a military-style flak jacket and had at least six magazines of ammunition when he entered the nightclub.
After the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol, Voepel told theUnion-Tribune, “This is Lexington and Concord. First shots fired against tyranny.”
Randy Voepel.Randy Voepel/Twitter
He added: “Tyranny will follow in the aftermath of the Biden swear-in on January 20th.”
RELATED VIDEO: 5 Dead, Many Others Injured in Shooting at LGBTQ Nightclub in Colorado: We Are ‘Devastated’
Voepel later said he didn’t condone the lawlessness and violence at the Capitol, theUnion-Tribunereported.
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“The left has their crazies and the right has their crazies, and I don’t support either one,” Voepel said. “I support the First Amendment and the ability to protest, as long as you keep it peaceful.”
According toCNN, the first 911 calls from Club Q began at 11:56 p.m. By midnight, an officer was at the scene, and the suspect was taken into custody at 12:02 a.m, six minutes after the attack started.
Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez told CNN that at least two people inside the club disarmed the shooter,stopping the violence before it got much worse. “We owe them a great debt of thanks,” Vasquez said.
Colorado Springs Mayor John Sutherstold NPRon Sunday that one of the men was able to grab a weapon from the gunman and then hit him with it. When police arrived, one of the patrons was holding the suspect down.
Voepel could not be reached for comment.
source: people.com
