A gunman killed five people and wounded at least 18 others when he entered Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs and began firing before he was taken into police custody.
Police responded to report of a shooting at 11:57 pm Sunday night, according to Colorado Springs Police Department Lt. Pamela Castro. Castro confirmed the suspect was injured and was being treated before he was taken into custody, according to CNN. “Initial evidence and interviews indicate that the suspect entered Club Q and immediately began shooting at people inside as he moved further into the club,” Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez told CNN. Two people inside the club fought with the suspect and subdued him until police arrived on scene, according to CNN.
“While the suspect was inside of the club, at least two heroic people inside the club confronted and fought with the suspect and were able to stop the suspect from continuing to kill and harm others,” Vasquez said, according to TMZ.
“We owe them a great debt of thanks. As the investigation is still in its early stages we are not going to identify any of the witnesses inside of the club at this time,” Vasquez continued. Vasquez confirmed a long rifle was used in the shooting and two firearms were found at the scene of the mass shooting, according to CNN. Michael Allen, district attorney for Colorado’s 4th Judicial District, said that 22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich has been taken into custody.
Officials from Penrose Hospital and UCHealth Memorial Hospital system confirmed several victims of the shooting are in critical condition and are being treated in intensive care. Dr. Bill Plauth, Penrose Hospital’s chief medical officer said seven victims were taken to his hospital and two people remain in life threatening condition in critical care.
“The other five patients mainly had extremity injuries and two have already been treated and released back to the community,” he said according to CNN. “The others that have been admitted to the hospital, still undergoing treatment,” he said. (RELATED: The Identity Of A$AP Rocky’s Alleged Shooting Victim Is Revealed – And He’s Suing)
Dr. David Steinbruner, of UCHealth Memorial Hospital system, said that his 10 patients were transported to his hospital.
“We do have patients in critical condition as well,” Steinbruner said. “Several people being taken care of in our ICU,” he said, according to CNN.
Police are investigating to determine the cause of the shooting, and have not ruled out the possibility of this incident being a hate crime.
Allen spoke about the tragedy that unfolded. “Every person, regardless of who they are, has a right to be secure from fear and physical harm, and actions taken to strike fear in specific communities will not be tolerated in our community,” he said, according to CNN.