What happened at Club Q? Five dead, 18 injured due to mass shooting at Colorado Springs gay nightclub
COLORADO SPRING, COLORADO: A gay nightclub was attacked by an unnamed gunman, who left at least five people dead and 18 more wounded, in Colorado Springs on Saturday, November 19. Club Q, a well-known nightclub, advertises itself as an "adult-oriented gay & lesbian nightclub hosting theme nights such as karaoke, drag shows & DJs" on Google.
The shooting was reported around 11.57 pm local time as footage shared on Twitter showed a large number of police, emergency response and ambulances lining the streets outside the club. After receiving multiple 911 calls, 11 ambulances arrived at the scene, according to Colorado Springs Fire Capt Mike Smaldino. The attack reportedly came just before the Transgender Day of Remembrance or TDOR, which is observed annually on November 20 in memory of people murdered as a result of transphobia.
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The club's bartender revealed to The Mirror the horrors he saw as the shooter ransacked the establishment. He reportedly said, "I was afraid I was going to die. I was preparing to get shot when the shots then stopped. 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." According to The Mirror, local police discovered a person inside, whom they believe to be the suspect. Colorado Springs Police Lieutenant Pamela Castro reportedly said, “At this point in time, the suspect is being treated, but is in custody.”
BREAKING: #BNNUS Reports
— Gurbaksh Singh Chahal (@gchahal) November 20, 2022
At 11:57 a.m., the first call came in for a mass shooting at #ClubQ. As of right now, 18 people injured and 5 people killed.
On the 324th day of the year, this will be the 702nd mass shooting in America. pic.twitter.com/fSEZn3HwQU
Castro, however, did not clarify whether the suspect was included in the count of people who were injured in the shooting. Police have so far revealed nothing about the motive behind the attack.
Meanwhile, Club Q expressed its shock and devastation over the senseless attack in a statement posted on social media. “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,” the statement read.