Colorado, US. Five people are been killed among 23 wounded in what is believed to be a mass shooting at a gay club in Colorado Springs in the United States. A gunman opened fire at Club Q late last night, sparking a massive emergency response. Lieutenant Pamela Castro, of the Colorado Springs Police Department, told a media briefing this morning that an initial call came in about the incident just before midnight.
According to local news outlets, several of the 18 people injured have been taken to hospital. CSPD officers are believed to have located one suspect, who is also being treated at a local hospital. Police said the FBI was in attendance at the scene and was assisting in the investigation. A spokesperson for the Colorado Springs Fire department told local affiliate networks 34 firefighters were called along with 11 ambulances. Captain Mike Smaldino said some of those ambulances were transporting multiple victims to the hospital in one go.
Local law enforcement said earlier this morning that officers had closed the road the LGBT nightclub is situated on while responding to the incident. A cordon is in place on North Academy Road, between the intersections with North Carefree Circle and Village Seven Road, to the northeast of the city. Footage of the incident posted online shows a large emergency response, including a long line of police vehicles attending with their emergency lights on.
Club Q advertises itself as an “adult-oriented gay and lesbian nightclub hosting theme nights such as karaoke, drag shows & DJs”. In a statement on social media, it said the establishment was “devastated by the senseless attack on our community”. It added: “We thank the quick reactions of heroic customers that subdued the gunman and ended this hate attack.”
32-year-old Gaby Lamah, who has been visiting the club since she was 19, said she and her friends had made a “last-minute” decision not to go to the venue last night. Reacting to the reports, she told the Mirror she was “angry” and “heartbroken”. Ms. Lamah added: “I’m not sure I could back there and not be anxious the entire time. “It feels like our world is going backward instead of forwards.”
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