The gunman who opened fire inside an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado was detained by two “heroic” people inside the venue, police said at a news conference today.
Five people were killed and 25 others injured in the Q Club shooting, police said.
Police identified the suspect as 22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich.
The suspect entered the nightclub and “immediately began shooting at people inside… 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,” police chief Adrian Vasquez told a press conference, reports RTE.
Police also said they believed the suspect, who is now in custody, was armed with a long rifle.
Police received the initial call just before midnight about the shooting. Upon arrival, officers saw a person believed to be the suspect inside the club.
On its Google listing, Club Q describes itself as a “adult-oriented gay and lesbian nightclub hosting theme nights such as karaoke, drag shows & DJs”, reports RTE.
On its Facebook page, a statement from Club Q said it was “devastated by the senseless attack on our community. We thank the quick reactions of heroic customers that subdued the gunman and ended this hate attack”, reports RTE.
Images from the scene after the shooting showed emergency and security vehicles with flashing beacons parked on a street near the scene.
At 4 a.m. (11 a.m. Irish time), police had cordoned off the area around the club, which is located in a strip mall on the outskirts of Colorado Springs.
In 2016, a gunman killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, before being killed by police.
At the time, it was the worst mass shooting in recent US history.
The attacker had declared allegiance to a leader of the Islamic State. He died in a shootout with the police.
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