Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, is in custody and faces murder and hate crime charges for allegedly killing five people and injuring 25 others in a Colorado nightclub on Saturday.
Aldrich was charged with ten felony counts; five counts of murder and five counts of committing a bias-motivated crime causing bodily injury. While Aldrich’s name may not sound familiar, his original name might ring a bell. Aldrich’s name was Nicholas Franklin Brink until he changed it in 2016. He’s the son of former MMA fighter Aaron Brink.
Weeks before his 16th birthday, Aldrich’s grandparents petitioned a Texas court for the name change. They were his legal guardians at the time.
“Minor wishes to protect himself and his future from any connections to birth father and his criminal history. Father has had no contact with minor for several years,” read Bexar County, Texas court records.
Brink, 48, had an MMA career that lasted 21 years and included 58 fights,. He competed in Rings, UFC, WEC, King of the Cage, among other promotions. Brink, who also worked in the pornography industry, has an extensive criminal history. He was convinced of battery of the suspected shooters mother, Laura Voepel, before Aldrich was born. He was sentenced to 2 1/2 years on drug charges. While out on supervised release, he broke the conditions of his release by testing positive to illegal steroids. In 2016, Brink and another man were arrested for attempted burglary and possession of a firearm. Brink was also charged for violation of parole and being under the influence of a controlled substance.
Brink last fought at California Cage Wars 13 in June 2019 defeating Cody Sons by TKO. He competed one time inside the UFC octagon, losing to Andrei Arlovski by submission in the first round at UFC 28 in November 2000.
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