Authorities are trying to determine if the shooting was a hate crime following the fatal shooting at a popular gay, lesbian and transgender nightclub in Colorado Springs, US. So far, the suspected shooter has not spoken to police. Police Chief Adrian Vasquez told the New York Times on Sunday. The attack killed five people and injured 25 others.
According to police, the 22-year-old man entered the club with an assault rifle and pistol and immediately began firing. He didn’t say a word about it. After all, the attacker was overrun by “at least two heroic people in the club”, police chief Vasquez told journalists (see also video above), “we owe them a lot”. The attack was over in about a minute, Vasquez explained. The suspect is now in hospital with injuries.
The attack took place on the night of Transgender Day, a day that commemorates victims of transphobia. In the club called Club Q, a transgender party with a transvestite show was scheduled that evening, local broadcaster KRDO reports. According to Vasquez, there were no previous threats against the club.
The perpetrator was officially known
After the police released the name of the attacker, it was revealed that he had sparked a police operation last year by threatening his mother with a bomb, official documents show. At first it remained unclear what happened to the investigations against him at the time and how he got his weapons.
The club called on its Facebook page to raise money for the victims. In interviews with local stations, guests have described the venue as the only club of its kind in Colorado Springs that has provided them with a “safe haven” where they can be themselves.
25 people injured
Police had initially spoken of 18 injured. During the day she then corrected the number to 25. It was initially unclear how many people were in the club at the time of the crime. According to the owners – possibly due to the cold weather – it was not as busy as usual on Saturday evening.
KRDO spoke of one of the largest police operations in Colorado Springs history. The police emphasized that after the first report came in three minutes before midnight, the suspect was arrested at 00:02.
US President Joe Biden has expressed his condolences to the victims and their families. He stressed that the American gay, lesbian and trans community has experienced “vast violence” in recent years. “We must not tolerate hate,” Biden wrote in a statement, reiterating his call for tougher gun laws.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
