5 killed and at least 18 wounded at a mass shooting in Club Q, a nightclub in Colorado Springs, hosting LGBTQ community. A 22 year armed person entered a queer nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado sometimes before midnight Saturday and immediately rushed out to open fire that killed at least five people and injured 18 before he was stopped and disarmed.
The suspect was identified as Anderson Lee Aldrich, responsible for the shooting at Club Q as per the Colorado Springs Police Chief. Two firearms were identified at the scene and the suspect used a long rifle for the shooting.
Two people inside the club, both came in to prevent the escalation of violence and Chief vowed a vote of thanks to them. After the incident took place, it only lasted a few minutes when a lot of people started calling 911 and soon the officers were dispatched to arrive at the scene and the suspect was detained within minutes.
There were a total of 39 officers that responded to the incident. Out of the people injured, most of them are critical in condition with wounds from the gunshot. However, the exact number was not disclosed by the officials.
The officers did not shoot the suspect and currently he’s being admitted to a hospital, the police said.
However, the police did not get into speaking about the motive behind the shooting, but did note that the club was one associated with the LGBTQ community.Â
Chief on LGBTQ citizens
The Chief said that the club queue was a safe haven for the LGBTQ citizens, and that every citizen had the right to safety and security and going about the city without having the fear of any physical harm or maltreatment.
The location reminds of the 2016 attack on the LGBTQ community at the nightclub in Orlando, Florida. The suspect belonged to the Islamic State and he gunned down almost 49 people, wounding at least 50.
Colorado has been a witness to some of the most heinous mass shootings in the history of the United States . The infamous 1999 shooting in the Colombian High school, and the 2012 movie theater shooting in Aurora are reminiscent of the present shooting.
Club Q put out a statement that they were devastated by the pointless attack on the club, targeting the community and also were grateful to the quick response of the customers who came forward to subdue the gunman and the hate attack and prevented further violence and loss of lives.
The club posted that it would host a drag brunch and a drag show on the coming Sunday for Transgender Day of Remembrance. However, the club’s website now says that the club will remain closed until any further notice.
The Colorado Springs fire captain said that around 11 ambulances were employed to the scene after the multiple 911 calls from the location . The patients are being fitted at UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central, as said out by the vice president for hospital communications, Dan Weaver.
Colorado’s governor, the country’s first openly gay governor, Jared Polis called the attack as horrific, sickening and devastating and offered immediate deployment of state resources to the local law enforcement. He also thanked the individuals who came forward to block the gunman which likely saved a lot of lives and also the first responders who responded at such a short notice to the horrific incident .
He assured that the administration shall stand with the LGBTQ community, and also mourned everybody who was impacted by the tragedy. Gay bars have been havens for people trying to explore their identity or simply finding refuge or space to explore themselves without any fear of being judged or attacked upon.
The Club Q, as per Google identifies itself as a club that serves as an ‘adult oriented, gay and lesbian nightclub’ hosting drag shows, karaoke and DJs. Colorado Springs in the past have been forced to be in similar mournful situations.
