A shooting outside a longtime Tucson, Arizona, gay bar that left two people dead is being investigated as a hate crime after authorities said the suspected gunman carried a note listing several LGBTQIA+ associated businesses.
Vincent Anthony Siqueiros, 42, and Cameron Davis Capara, 33, were fatally shot shortly after midnight local time on Aug. 31 in the parking lot of Venture-N, according to the Tucson Police Department. The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Ousman Ceesay, sustained a gunshot wound and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Authorities released few details about the circumstances surrounding the shooting and did not say whether Ceesay had a prior connection to the two victims. Police also have not disclosed how Ceesay sustained
the gunshot wound or provided details about his manner of death.
Initial evidence indicates Ceesay confronted the two men in the parking lot before shooting them, police said. Authorities did not elaborate on the other businesses that were listed on Ceesay's note.
The incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime. There is no known ongoing threat to the community, but patrols have been increased around LGBTQIA+ establishments as the investigation continues, according to police.
"I am deeply saddened that another senseless loss of life has happened in our community. Bias-based crimes are especially heinous and have no place in our community," Tucson Police Chief Monica Prieto said in a statement. "Our investigators are thoroughly examining the evidence and pursuing all available leads as they work to establish the full circumstances surrounding this tragic incident."
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 near downtown Tucson has a classic, straightforward vibe with a bar, pool tables, and darts under dim lights, according to the website.
LGBTQIA+ advocates, local leaders condemn shooting
The shooting prompted an outpouring of grief and condemnation from local leaders and LGBTQIA+ organizations, many of whom described Venture-N as a longstanding safe haven for Tucson's queer community.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero called the shooting a "direct and devastating attack on our LGBTQ+ community, another senseless act of gun violence." In a video statement shared on social media, Romero said the incident "serves as another painful reminder that homophobia is still rampant in our country."
Tucson Queerstory, Southern Arizona Senior Pride, the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation and other organizations are planning a candlelight vigil on Sept. 2 to honor Siqueiros and Capara and to support members of the community affected by the shooting.
The Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation said the violence had shaken Tucson's LGBTQIA+ community.
"Places like Venture-N are more than businesses," the organization said in a statement. "They are places where people find friendship, chosen family, safety, and belonging."
Southern Arizona Senior Pride said the attack was "devastating and frightening," particularly for older community members who have lived through periods of discrimination and violence. The group said the community "deserves to gather, celebrate, and live openly without fear."
Tucson Queerstory called the impact of the shooting on the city's queer community "profound." The organization noted that for decades, Venture-N has been a "steadfast safe space" for the local queer community.
"Tucson has long been known for its welcoming environment and strong queer community," the organization said in a statement. "To now add another hate crime to that history is heartbreaking and infuriating. Living through it in real time makes the history we study all too real."
Tucson shooting revives memories of past hate crimes
The shooting sent shock waves through LGBTQIA+ communities, reviving memories of other attacks, including the 2022 mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colorado, that killed five people. NYC Pride said the Tucson shooting came less than three months after the 10th anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, where 49 people were killed.
"Our bars, clubs, and local gathering spots are meant to be safe spaces for our community. Tragedies like this are a painful reminder that too often, they are not,” NYC Pride said in a statement on social media.
According to GLAAD, a nonprofit LGBTQ advocacy organization, nearly 50 people have been killed in anti-LGBTQ hate crimes in the United States since June 2022. Data from the organization also showed that nearly 350 people have been injured in similar violent attacks.
GLAAD noted that there have been "at least 58 targeted acts of hate" against the LGBTQ community in Arizona over the last four years.
"At a time of unprecedented attacks and discrimination targeting the LGBTQ community, we need every voice to speak up and advocate for an end to gun violence and to protect vulnerable and marginalized people," Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD president and CEO, said in a statement.
Contributing: Robert Anglen and Michelle Cruz, Arizona Republic
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deadly shooting outside Arizona gay bar investigated as hate crime
