Club Q shooting survivors announce lawsuit seeking government accountability

On the two-year anniversary of the deadly Club Q mass shooting in Colorado Springs, survivors and family members of those killed announced a federal lawsuit claiming El Paso County officials and Club Q management could have prevented the shooting.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court of Colorado, claims the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners and former El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder are culpable in the shooting because they refused to enforce Colorado’s “red flag” law, and that Club Q owners did not implement sufficient security measures to keep its patrons safe.

Colorado’s 2019 red flag law allows law enforcement agencies, housemates or family members to ask the courts to issue an extreme risk protection order against an individual if there is evidence they could pose a threat to themselves or others by having a weapon.

Plaintiffs include Adriana Vance, whose son Raymond Green was killed, Tanya Beal, whose daughter Kelly Loving was killed, and Julia Rump, whose son Derrick Rump was killed. Survivors in the lawsuit include John Arcediano, Jancarlos Del Valle, Ashtin Gamblin, Jerecho Loveall, Anthony Malburg, Charlene Slaugh, James Slaugh, and Brianna Winningham.

Chicago-based law firm Romanucci & Blandin — which has represented victims of other mass shootings, including the Uvalde, Texas, elementary school shooting, the Pulse nightclub shooting in Florida, the July 4 Highland Park shooting in Illinois — is representing the Club Q victims. Bufkin & Schneider, a Colorado Springs-based law firm, is representing one victim, Barrett Hudson, who filed a separate claim. Hudson was shot seven times at Club Q, and three bullets will remain in his body for the rest of his life because they were not safe to remove, his lawyer said.

Patrick Huber, senior attorney with Romanucci & Blandin, said the shooter, Anderson Lee Aldrich, had stated plans to perpetrate a mass shooting and that government entities failed to act on “clear, credible warnings about the shooter’s violent intentions, choosing to prioritize political opposition to the red flag law over public safety.”

“The lawsuit seeks justice for the victims and their families, holding those responsible accountable for their failure to protect the community despite clear warning signs and foreseeable risk,” Huber said at a press conference announcing the lawsuit Tuesday in Denver. “The lawsuit underscores that this tragedy was not an unavoidable act of violence, but the result of systemic failures by those entrusted with safeguarding the public.”

County commissioners passed a resolution in 2019, which Elder supported, “showing support for the Second Amendment” and declared they would not enforce the red flag law. Huber said El Paso County’s “unconstitutional and reckless policy” refusing to enforce the red flag law enabled Aldrich’s attack.

The lawsuit highlights Aldrich’s previous interactions with law enforcement, including a call their grandmother made in June 2021 reporting that Aldrich was “making a bomb in the basement” and that they said they planned to be “the next mass killer.” Aldrich also threatened their grandparents while holding a loaded gun and said, “You guys die today, and I’m taking you with me. I’m loaded and ready. You’re not calling anyone,” the lawsuit says.

Defendants include the commissioners, Elder, various LLCs related to Club Q as well as its owners, Matthew Haynes, Kenneth Romines and Nicholas Grzecka. Club Q said in an unattributed statement emailed to Newsline that “we will address these matters in the appropriate venue” to respect the legal process.

“The tragic events of Club Q remain a devastating chapter in our lives and in the lives of our community. The pain of this tragedy is something we all carry with us every single day,” the statement said. “The accusations against Club Q and myself are false and completely inaccurate and will be rigorously defended. The blame for this tragedy does not lie with those who were impacted but with Anderson Aldrich, the shooter and a system that enables easy access to weapons of war.”

Newsline’s attempts to contact the El Paso BOCC and Elder were unsuccessful. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said it will not comment on pending litigation.

Sarah Raisch, also a senior attorney with Romanucci & Blandin, said Club Q “drastically reduced its security measures” despite increased risk to LGBTQ+ venues, particularly following the Pulse nightclub shooting. She said club ownership “consistently prioritized profits over people, leaving its patrons vulnerable to this horrific attack.”

When the Pulse shooting happened in 2016, Club Q had as many as five or more security guards, one of whom was armed. On the night of the Club Q shooting, only one security person was employed at the club and also worked as a barback and food runner, according to the lawsuit.

“Club Q advertised itself as a safe space, but that was a dangerous illusion,” Raisch said. “Rather than increasing safety and risk management measures after Pulse, Club Q ownership cut back security and cut corners on security measures.

The plaintiffs seek financial damages from the defendants named in the lawsuit, but they don’t say how much. Huber said this would be determined in court.

Aldrich was sentenced to 55 concurrent life sentences in prison in June after pleading guilty to 74 hate crimes and firearms charges.

Victims still recovering

Gamblin said she’s lucky to have found a job that understands her limitations. She was working the front door the night of the shooting and was shot nine times in both her arms, resulting in broken bones on both sides.

She can’t drive, cook for herself, or walk her dogs because of the injuries she sustained in the shooting. Recently, she went to a concert with her mother, and the sounds from pyrotechnics the artist used reminded her of gunshots.

“I struggle with doing things that I once found enjoyable,” Gamblin said. “I went from being a person who could hold her own while her spouse was gone to being absolutely terrified every time he leaves, because what if I can’t open my drinks, or get help cooking.”

Charlene Slaugh was shot multiple times, and said the pain and memories from the shooting two years ago “remain as vivid as if they were yesterday.” She’s had multiple surgeries and has gone through months of physical therapy. Her brother James was at the club with her the night of the shooting along with his husband, Del Valle.

“Physically, I’ve come a long way. But the emotional scars are much harder to heal,” Slaugh said. “There’s still many moments when the weight of it all becomes overwhelming.”

“There’s a profound loneliness that comes with carrying trauma like this,” she added. “I remember what it felt like to wonder if I’d survive. Those memories don’t just disappear. They’re woven into the fabric of my life now.”

James Slaugh said he’s now hypervigilant in a way he never was prior to the shooting, always checking for exits and watching other peoples’ behaviors for something “that might feel off.” He said survivors need “ongoing support, understanding, compassion and justice” as they try to navigate life after the shooting.

“It’s hard to feel fully comfortable or safe, and that feeling changes everything about how I move through this world now,” he said.

Colorado Newsline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Colorado Newsline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Quentin Young for questions: [email protected]. Follow Colorado Newsline on Facebook and X.