General view of Club Q. Photo: Kevin Mohatt/Portal.
This Saturday, a mass shooting at a nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, left at least five dead and 18 injured.
According to local police lieutenant Pamela Castro, multiple emergency calls were received by authorities as of 11:57 p.m.
According to Castro, agents went to Club Q where they located a suspect who is currently in custody.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D), the first openly gay governor in the United States, said in a statement: “This is appalling, disgusting and devastating. My heart breaks for the family and friends of those who were lost, injured and traumatized in this horrific shooting.”
Polis said he spoke with Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers and clarified that “all state resources are available to local law enforcement in Colorado Springs.” We are forever grateful for the brave people who blocked the shooter, likely saving lives in the process, and the first responders who responded quickly to this horrific shooting. Colorado stands with our LGBTQ community and everyone affected by this tragedy as we mourn together.”
Club Q said in a statement released on social media that they were “devastated by the senseless attack on our community.” He appreciated “the quick reactions of the heroic customers who subdued the attacker and ended this hateful attack.”
Police did not provide details on how the shooting ended, but Castro noted that “it was not a shooting involving officers.”
The attack on Club Q commemorates the 2016 shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in which a man who swore allegiance to the Islamic State killed 49 people and injured at least 53.
Some of the largest mass shootings in the United States have taken place in Colorado, like in 1999 at Columbine High School or in 2012 at the Aurora Movie Theater.
The police did not comment on the motive for the shooting on Saturday.
Police Lieutenant Castro did not clarify whether the suspect was on the list of those injured in the shooting. He added that the police maintain cooperation with the FBI.
Colorado Springs Fire Chief Mike Smaldino said 11 ambulances were at the scene after receiving multiple 911 calls.
(With information from CNN in Spanish)