Two men have been killed outside a popular LGBTQ+ venue in Tucson, Arizona, in a shooting that police are investigating as a possible hate crime.
The attack took place shortly after 12.30am on Monday (31 August) outside Venture-N, a bar serving Tucson's LGBTQ+ community. Officers responding to reports of gunfire found three men suffering from gunshot wounds in the venue's car park.
Police said 42-year-old Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and 33-year-old Cameron Davis Capara died at the scene. The suspected gunman, identified as 44-year-old Ousman Ceesay, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries but later died.
According to investigators, initial evidence suggests the suspect confronted the two men in the car park before opening fire. Authorities are treating the case as a potential hate crime after reportedly discovering a note in the suspect's possession listing a number of LGBTQIA+ associated businesses.
Tucson Police Chief Monica Prieto described bias-motivated crimes as "especially heinous" and said officers were working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the shooting. The department has increased patrols around LGBTQ+ venues and is working with community organisations to provide support and reassurance.
The attack has sent shockwaves through Tucson's LGBTQ+ community. Rick Morey-Wolfe and Randy Pease of Tucson QueerStory, a non-profit organisation that preserves local LGBTQ+ history, said the incident was difficult to comprehend. Pease noted that it had been more than two decades since a major anti-LGBTQ+ attack had shaken the city.
Pima County Attorney Laura Conover expressed solidarity with LGBTQ+ residents, saying no one should fear being targeted because of who they are or where they choose to gather.
US Representative Adelita Grijalva also condemned the shooting, describing it as a "targeted act of hate" and a reminder that anti-LGBTQ+ violence remains a threat even in communities known for inclusion and diversity.
Friends and community members have paid tribute to the victims. Local reports described Capara as a regular at Venture-N and a photographer within the fetish community, while Siqueiros was remembered as a well-known and valued figure within Tucson's queer community.
Police have said there is currently no indication of any ongoing threat to the public, but the investigation remains active as detectives continue to examine evidence surrounding the deadly shooting.
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