A 22-year-old man is in police custody after at least five people died and another 25 were injured in a shooting at a LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colo., just before midnight on Sunday. The mass shooting occurred at Club Q, until recently the only LGBTQ+ nightclub in the city comprised of 484,000 residents. Colorado Springs Police Lt. Pamela Castro said at a news conference that the suspect, 22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich, was taken into custody at 12:02 a.m. just minutes after the shooting. He is being treated for injuries at a local hospital.
Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez said that the suspect began shooting upon entering the club, and two “heroic” people fought with him and were able to stop him from killing and hurting others before officers arrived. “We owe them a great debt,” said Vasquez. At least two firearms were found at the scene, with an unspecified long rifle in the shooting. “The motive of the crime is part of the investigation and whether this was a hate crime is a part of that investigation,” Vasquez added.
Club Q said in a statement posted on Facebook: “Club Q is devastated by the senseless attack on our community. Our prayers and thoughts are with all the victims and their families and friends. We thank the quick reactions of heroic customers that subdued the gunman and ended this hate attack.”
Gov. Jared Polis, the first openly gay governor in the U.S., tweeted : “This is horrific, sickening, devastating. My heart breaks for the family and friends of those lost, injured, and traumatized in this horrific shooting. I have spoken with Mayor Suthers and made it clear that every state resource is available to local law enforcement in Colorado Springs. We are eternally grateful for the brave individuals who blocked the gunman likely saving lives in the process and for the first responders who responded swiftly to this horrific shooting. Colorado stands with our LGTBQ community and everyone impacted by this tragedy as we mourn.”
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