Who was Ashley Paugh? 'Amazing' Colorado mom, 35, among five shot dead in Club Q massacre
COLORADO SPRING, COLORADO: The name of another victim in the shooting that happened at Club Q in Colorado Springs has been made public. Suspect Anderson Lee Aldrich took the lives of five people, including Ashley Paugh, when he opened fire in Club Q on November 18, 2022. The shooting reportedly also left around 18 other people gravely injured.
Kurt Paugh, the husband of Ashley Paugh, has written and released a statement on behalf of the family that provides details about Ashley's life. “Ashley was a loving wife – she was my high school sweetheart – and she was just an amazing mother. Her daughter was her whole world, and she was so proud of Ryleigh, who is a championship swimmer. She loved her dad, her sister, and her family; Ashley was a loving aunt, with many nieces and nephews who are devastated by her loss,” the grieving husband wrote. He also added that hunting, fishing, and four-wheeler riding were among Ashley's favorite outdoor pursuits. The late mother also worked tirelessly to bring changes to the community while cherishing the time spent with her loved ones. During the Club Q massacre, brave patrons stopped the assailant by pinning him down to the ground before he could cause more harm.
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In an interview with KKTV, Kurt said, “We’re absolutely devastated by the loss of Ashley. She meant everything to this family, and we can’t even begin to understand what it will mean to not have her in our lives.” He further added, “She had a huge heart. I know that Ashley cared about so many people. She helped so many people through her work at Kids Crossing, a nonprofit that helps find loving homes for foster children. She would do anything for the kids – traveling all over southeastern Colorado, from Pueblo and Colorado Springs to Fremont County and the Colorado border, working to raise awareness and encourage individuals and families to become foster parents to children in our community. This included working with the LGBTQ+ community to find welcoming foster placements for children.”
Ashley, 35, worked for a charity that helped foster children find permanent homes called Kids Crossing. The statement from Ashley's husband stated that she would go to any lengths for the children, even touring southeast Colorado to spread awareness.
Kurt also mentioned how much she enjoyed donating trees during Christmas to help foster children celebrate their holiday period. “During the holidays, Ashley organized giving trees and delivered them to businesses so that foster kids could have brighter holidays – and in fact, she was setting up giving trees even last week, canvassing Pueblo and Colorado Springs," he said.