Five people dead and many more injured after mass shooting at gay nightclub
Multiple people are dead and many more injured after a mass shooting at a gay bar in Colorado Springs. (Twitter/@IntelPointAlert)
At least five people have been killed in a horrific mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Colorado, US, police have confirmed.
Another 18 people are said to be injured as a result of bloodshed and violence breaking out at Colorado Springs’ Club Q on Saturday (19 November).
Club Q describes itself as an “adult-oriented gay and lesbian nightclub hosting theme nights such as karaoke, drag shows and DJs”.
Police refused to speculate on a possible motive but did say one individual, believe to be the shooter, had been taken into custody.
“We will be here for many, many hours to come,” said Colorado Springs Police lieutenant Pamela Castro.
WATCH: #BNNUS Reports
Lt. Pamela Castro briefs the media at 3 a.m. on the mass shooting in Colorado Springs that left 18 injured and five dead at a gay and lesbian nightclub, #ClubQ. pic.twitter.com/EbTfdu6Bpx
— Gurbaksh Singh Chahal (@gchahal) November 20, 2022
In a statement shared on social media, Club Q said it was “devastated by the senseless attack on our community”.
“Our prays and thoughts are with all the victims and their families and friends,” the statement continued.
“We thank the quick reactions of heroic customers that subdued the gunman and ended this hate attack.”
The incident – the 27th mass shooting to take place in the US in November alone – occurred on the eve of Transgender Day of Remembrance, which is observed annually to honour the memory of trans people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-trans violence.
It comes back as LGBTQ+ lives are becoming increasingly under attack in the US. White supremacist and Christian fundamentalists protesting family-friendly drag shows have become common sight, hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been filled in 2022 alone with the intention of stripping back the rights of trans people, and just this week disgraced ex-president Donald Trump launched his 2024 presidential bid with an unhinged attack on trans people.
Unconfirmed reports suggested the Club Q shooter was picking off his victims one by one with a sniper rifle.
A bartender for the club, Michael Anderson, told The Mirror that he was “afraid he was going to die”.
“I was preparing to get shot, when the shots then stopped,” he said. “After a minute or two I wasn’t sure if it was over or not, so I got up and decided to make a run for it. I found a man lying on the floor being shot in the neck.”
Democratic congressman-elect Eric Sorensen was among the first to pay tribute to the victims in the wake of the devastation.
“As we pray for those fighting for life, we must use loud voices to stand up against hate,” he said. “Our country must turn down the hateful rhetoric aimed at our LGBTQ+ community.”
