At least five people were killed and 18 others injured after a shooting erupted late Saturday night at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs.
NBC News reports the suspected shooter, Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, entered Club Q before midnight and immediately opened fire. Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez confirmed at a news conference Sunday morning that at least two customers swiftly acted to stop the shooter.
“We owe them a great debt of thanks,” Vasquez said at a news conference Sunday morning. “Their actions clearly saved lives.”
Police arrived at the scene within three minutes and detained Aldrich, who is currently being treated at a local hospital. Vasquez told reporters he wasn’t sure how Aldrich was injured, as he was not shot by police.
Of the 18 people injured, several are in critical condition with gunshot wounds, though the exact number was unclear, officials said.
“We have numerous people transported to multiple local hospitals via ambulance and police cruisers. The hospitals are helping us to notify family who have been injured,” Colorado Springs Police Department spokeswoman Sgt. Pamela Castro said.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis issued a statement Sunday morning in which he called the shooting “horrific, sickening and devastating.”
“I have spoken with [Colorado Springs] Mayor John Suthers and made it clear that every state resource is available to local law enforcement in Colorado Springs,” Polis wrote. “We are eternally grateful for the brave individuals who blocked the gunman likely saving lives in the process and for the first responders who responded swiftly to this horrific shooting. Colorado stands with our LGBTQ community and everyone impacted by this tragedy as we mourn together.”
