Five killed in shooting at gay club in Colorado

A 22-year-old gunman opened fire in a gay nightclub in the US city of Colorado Springs, killing five people and injuring 18 before he was subdued by “heroic” patrons and arrested by police.

Two firearms, including a “long rifle”, were found at the scene at Club Q, said Colorado Springs Police Department Chief Adrian Vasquez.

“At least two heroic people” confronted the gunman and stopped the shooting, the chief said, adding: “We owe them a great debt of thanks.”

Authorities received the report of a shooting at Club Q at 11.57pm on Saturday, said Lieutenant Pamela Castro of the Colorado Springs Police Department.

The violence is the sixth mass killing this month and comes in a year when the nation was shaken by the deaths of 21 in a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

Ms Castro said the suspect was injured but did not know how and that the FBI was on the scene.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis, who became the first openly gay man in the United States to be elected governor in 2018, said the news was “sickening”.

“My heart breaks for the family and friends of those lost, injured, and traumatized in this horrific shooting.

“Colorado stands with our LGTBQ community and everyone impacted by this tragedy as we mourn.”

Although a motive in the shooting was not yet clear, the incident came as antigay rhetoric has intensified by extremists.

In a statement, Club Q termed the shooting a hate attack.

“Club Q is devastated by the senseless attack on our community,” the club posted on its Facebook page.

It said its prayers were with victims and families, adding: “We thank the quick reactions of heroic customers that subdued the gunman and ended this hate attack.”