A man who police say shot and killed two people outside a gay bar in Tucson on Aug. 31 was carrying a list of several LGBTQ+ businesses when he died.
The suspect, Ousman Ceesay, 44, was one of three men with gunshot wounds police say they found near the Venture-N bar just after midnight.
Two victims, identified by police as Vincent Anthony Siqueiros, 42, and Cameron Davis Capara, 33, died at the scene. Ceesay was alive when police arrived but died at the hospital. It was unclear if Ceesay took his own life.
Police Chief Monica Prieto described the shooting as a hate crime and promised increased patrols around LGBTQ+ businesses.
"Bias-based crimes are especially heinous and have no place in our community," she said in a statement. "Tucson is, and always
has been, a diverse community where people of different backgrounds, identities and experiences call this city home."
Prieto said there was no indications of any ongoing threat to the public.
Venture-N is described by Gay Tucson as "the kind of neighborhood leather/Levi’s bar that feels instantly familiar: unpretentious, masculine, and social." The nondescript gray building located in downtown just north of Speedway Boulevard has a classic straightforward vibe with a bar, pool tables and darts under dim lights, according to the website.
Police said initial evidence indicates Ceesay confronted Siqueiros and Capara in the parking lot and shot them. Officials did not elaborate on the other businesses listed on Ceesay's note.
Attempts to locate an address for Ceesay were unsuccessful. It was unknown if he lived in Tucson or had local ties.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero called the shooting a direct attack on the LGBTQ+ community and another senseless act of gun violence.
"I stand in solidarity with everyone impacted by this tragedy and send my love and healing prayers to the families of the victims," she said in an online statement that was shared by community activists.
Romero said easy access to firearms, coupled with Arizona's weak gun laws, put everyone at risk.
"This tragedy serves as yet another painful reminder that homophobia is still rampant in our country," she said. "We must implement smarter policies to prevent mass shootings and keep our communities safe."
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Shooter had list of LGBTQ+ businesses as he opened fire outside gay bar
