Colorado Springs Shooting: 5 Dead, 25 Injured at Gay Nightclub Shooting

Late on Saturday, a gunman went on a killing spree inside a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, leaving at least five people dead and 25 more injured.

"Heroic" clubgoers, it has been reported, apprehended the shooter in the end.

According to Reuters, authorities declared on Sunday that they were investigating whether the incident had a hate-related motive.

Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, was identified by the police as the suspect and was said to have a long rifle. Authorities said he was taken into custody by police shortly after the gunshots began and was undergoing medical treatment.

The event reminded people of the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando, Florida, in 2016, where a gunman killed 49 people before being killed by police.

The Colorado Springs shooting occurred on the eve of Transgender Day of Remembrance, a yearly observance to honor transgender people who have been killed because of acts of violence.

In Colorado's second-largest city, Club Q, a long-running restaurant in a tiny strip mall, was a haven for the city's gay community.

Gay Nightclub Guests Initially Thought Gunshots Were Part of Music

Joshua Thurman, 34, was dancing in Club Q when the shots started. At first, he thought they were part of the music.

After hearing another shot, he claimed to have seen the light of a gun muzzle, but he knew better.

Thurman and another person ran to a dressing room, where they closed the door and took cover while the chaos happened, per USA Today.

"I could have lost my life - over what? What was the purpose?" said Thurman explaining that they were having fun like everyone else in their environment and had no intention of hurting anyone.

Club Q, Community and National Leaders Respond to the Nightclub Shooting

In a Facebook post, Club Q expressed sadness at the tragic attack on its community.

"Our prays and thoughts are with all the victims and their families and friends," the statement read, adding that they appreciated the brave guests' rapid efforts to tackle the gunman and end this hate crime.

The first openly gay governor in American history, Jared Polis of Colorado, termed the tragedy "horrific, horrible, and devastating."

In a statement, Polis wrote, "My heart breaks for the family and friends of those lost, injured, and traumatized in this horrific shooting."

NPR noted that he vowed that the state of Colorado would stand with the gay community and all those affected by the tragedy.

President Joe Biden also made a statement about the gay nightclub shooting event.

He said that places meant to be safe spaces of acceptance and celebration should never be converted into places of dread and violence, but it occurs all too frequently.

He argued that intolerance and prejudice have no place in society and that we must work to eradicate the injustices that lead to acts of violence against gay people.

"Today, Jill and I are praying for the families of the five people killed in Colorado Springs last night and for those injured in this senseless attack," Biden concluded.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

Watch: At Least 5 Killed, 18 Injured In Shooting At Gay Nightclub In Colorado Springs - From TODAY