Details in 2021 case with Colorado shooter suggest missteps

DENVER — The prosecution of the Colorado gay nightclub shooter for allegedly kidnapping and threatening to kill their grandparents in 2021 was moving toward a plea deal as defense attorneys reported “great progress” in Anderson Aldrich’s therapy for PTSD, but the case quickly collapsed and was dismissed months later, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press. In an October 2021 courtroom exchange, Chittum told Aldrich to “hang in there with the meds.” “It’s an adjustment period for sure,” Aldrich replied, to which the judge replied, “Yeah it will settle, don’t worry. The assistant district attorney handling the case asked for the trial to be continued citing the “serious charges.” Prosecutors didn’t explain in court hearings what they had done to try and serve Aldrich’s mother, who lives in Colorado Springs and told a friend of Aldrich that she kept evading service, or Pullen’s husband, who was caring for her in Florida. and they could’ve figured out a way of more effectively prosecuting.” While Dershowitz added that it’s impossible to confidently say whether the Club Q shooting could have been avoided if successful prosecution was brought in the 2021 case, he added that “there’s sufficient likelihood here that this could have been prevented.” Aldrich later tried to reclaim guns seized in the 2021 threat, but they were not returned, according to authorities.