'She said he was really nuts': Club Q shooting suspect Anderson Aldrich's dad accuses them of choking mom
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA: Aaron Franklin Brink, admits that his son Anderson Aldrich who allegedly killed four in a gay bar in Colorado had a "lot of rage." Moreover, Brink revealed that during one violent outburst, they even went on to choked their own mother.
Talking to the New York Post, Brink recollected from a year ago on Laura Voepel, his ex-wife calling him to complain that Aldrich had become increasingly violent. The MMA fighter and former pornstar Brink said that he was sorry for his ex-wife for having dealt with Aldrich's violent behaviour.
RELATED ARTICLES
'He's fueled by meth and hatred': Outrage as dad Aaron Brink is relieved shooter Anderson Aldrich is 'not gay'
Explaining the violent character of the Club Q shooter, Brink said that “She said he was really nuts. He was really aggressive and she complained about him. I don’t condone violence. … She said he was (really violent towards her) and I said, ‘He was? Well, I feel sorry for you.’ … He did choke her.”
Tracing his history of violence, back in 2021, when Aldrich's grandparents mentioned their plans to sell their house and shift to Florida, he allegedly threatened to kill them. His grandmother complained to the cops saying that their grandson was “going to be the next mass killer and has been collecting ammunition, firearms, bullet-proof body armor and storing it in the basement of the residence.”
Aldrich told Brink that they needed to see him urgently as Brink recalls the conversation he had with his son about five or six months ago. He said "was a little awkward for me. There was something wrong with him.” during the last time they spoke. For over a decade, they had been estranged and Brink considered this request strange and when Aldrich made a derogatory comment about Brink's new wife, he tells that the conversation soon turned into an argument.
About Brink trying to communicate with his son, he stated “I actually made more attempts to email him. He has been kind of toxic … it was too little, too late. I think we already missed the opportunity … At the time I think he was looking to retaliate or something. I wanted to see him to try to make it work.” The 48-year-old MMA fighter said that though Aldrich used to show interest in snipers and wanted to join the military at some point, he was not aware if his son kept any guns in his possession.
However, on November 19, US Army veteran Richard M. Fierro and US Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas James, the two military men subdued Aldrich after allegedly getting into Club Q in Colorado Springs. He started shooting using a machine gun, injuring dozens of people, and killing five people. Aldrich's court trial begins on December 6. With the possibility of facing charges of first-degree murder and hate crimes, they are to be charged formally. Under no bond hold, they currently remain in jail.
Aldrich’s defense attorneys revealed they are non-binary and used the they-them pronouns during a court hearing last week at El Paso County District Court. When asked if he knew that Aldrich identified as non-binary, Brink said he was "old school" and had no idea what non-binary meant. “There are no questions if you’re a man or a woman … no question about that. He has my genetics, so he’s gonna be pretty heterosexual," Brink added.
“I’m not anti-gay at all. I don’t have any issues with gay people. I will not participate [in] homosexuality and I prefer my son not to do the same thing … I was really very relieved to know that he wasn’t gay," he continued as he has received huge criticism over prior comments he made in this regard that were “misconstrued” as anti-gay. “Everybody’s lives matter. Your life matters. The gender you are… gay or straight … I have a heart. My heart goes out to the victims. Words can’t describe how sorry I am," he added.
With no choice left, Brink said that he had to leave his son Aldrich whose birth name is Nicholas as his brief relationship with Voepel was "toxic." He also told that when he became a successful pornstar in 2002 under the name 'Dick Delaware', his relationship with both his Voepel and Aldrich took a “nosedive." Brink said they were embarrassed about his decision to be part of the porn industry and that Aldrich was repeatedly bullied.