Locals Mourn Club Q Shooting at Candlelight Vigil in Castro

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In the wake of the Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs late Saturday, about 100 people—including prominent members of San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community and their allies—gathered at Harvey Milk Plaza to commemorate the dead and injured Sunday night.

The shooting, which occurred just before midnight, killed at least five people and wounded 25 at Club Q, an LGBTQ+ nightclub, which Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez described as ​​”a safe haven for our LGBTQ citizens.” 

The suspected shooter, a 22-year-old male, was taken into custody shortly after police arrived. He received medical treatment after being arrested. Two club patrons are credited with subduing the gunman and saving lives. At the time of the shooting, Club Q was hosting a “Drag Divas” show on the eve of Transgender Day of Remembrance, which is today. The shooting carries echoes of the 2016 Pulse shooting where 49 people were killed by a gunman at an Orlando, Florida LGBTQ+ nightclub. 

Colorado Springs officials are investigating whether the shooting was a hate crime. As of Sunday evening, several victims of the shooting are in critical condition, with 19 suffering gunshot wounds, according to Colorado Springs officials.

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