Five people were killed and 25 injured in a shooting at a gay, lesbian and transgender nightclub in the US city of Colorado Springs. A 22-year-old man entered the club with a gun and immediately started shooting, police said on Sunday. He was overpowered by at least two guests and is injured in hospital. Several injured club visitors have life-threatening injuries.
A police spokeswoman said investigations were still ongoing as to whether it was a hate crime case. The FBI Federal Police, which acts in these cases, also participates. The attack took place on the night of Transgender Day, a day to honor victims of transphobia. At wholesale Club Q, a transgender drag party was scheduled for the evening, the network reported.
“Club Q is devastated by the senseless attack on our community,” the club’s Facebook page said. “We are grateful for the quick responses from heroic guests who overpowered the shooter and ended this onslaught of hate.” On its Facebook page, Club Q features drag shows, events about transgender issues and karaoke, among other things.
Number of injured rises to 25
Police initially spoke of 18 wounded. During the day, she corrected the number to 25, as reported by broadcasters CNN and KKTV. It was initially unclear how many people were in the club at the time of the crime. Investigations are still ongoing, police spokeswoman Pam Castro told a news conference. Some of the injuries may not have come from gunfire, but from crushing while fleeing. It is also possible that information on the number of injured will be adjusted, as some people went to hospitals in private vehicles instead of ambulances.
Numerous police cars with flashing blue lights surrounding the club could be seen in the TV footage. KRDO spoke about one of the biggest operations in Colorado Springs history. The police emphasized that there was a quick reaction: the first call came three minutes before midnight, at 00:02 the suspect was already in custody. Another gun was found at the crime scene.
US President Joe Biden has emphasized that the gay, lesbian and trans community in America has experienced “terrible violence” in recent years. “We must not tolerate hate,” Biden wrote in a statement, reiterating his call for stricter gun laws.
In 2016, 49 people were killed in an attack on the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, popular with the LGBTQ community. The gunman claimed responsibility for the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization.