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The individuals who tackled a gunman after he opened fire at a LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs have been praised for their “incredible act of heroism” that prevented the tragedy that killed at least five people from being even worse.
The mayor of Colorado Springs, John Suthers, told CNN one or two individuals in the club moved quickly to “subdue” the shooter.
Suthers said police were on the scene by 12am and the incident was over by 12.02am.
“That’s largely because of the intervention of at least one, possibly two, very heroic individuals who subdued this guy,” he said. “[They] appear to have taken his handgun … and used it to disable him … not shoot him but hit him with the gun.”
“But for that, as tragic as this incident is, it’s a horrible crime, it could have been much, much worse but for these heroic actors.” Suthers said.
At least 25 people were also injured in the attack.
The suspected shooter, 22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich, was in custody, Adrian Vasquez, the chief of the Colorado Springs police department, Adrian Vasquez, said at a news conference on Sunday morning. He was taken to hospital to be treated for injuries.
Aldrich is alleged to have began shooting when he entered the club about 11.55pm Saturday. Vazquez also said at least two patrons quickly confronted him and subdued him. “We owe them a great debt of thanks,” he said.
The motive for the attack was not immediately clear. Whether or not it was a hate crime was part of the investigation into the attack, Vasquez said.
Joe Biden issued a statement on Sunday in which the president said “we must drive out the inequities that contribute to violence” against the LGBTQ community.
