In a tragic incident at a Tucson gay bar, three individuals, including the shooter, were killed, prompting an investigation into whether this was a hate crime. According to the Tucson Police Department, Vincent Anthony Siqueiros, 42, and Cameron Davis Capara, 33, were shot in the Venture-N parking lot shortly after midnight on Monday, resulting in their immediate deaths.
The suspect, Ousman Ceesay, 44, was also shot and later died at a local hospital. Police discovered a note with Ceesay that listed businesses associated with the LGBTQIA+ community, suggesting he might have confronted the victims in the parking lot before the shooting took place.
Although the investigation continues, authorities report that there is no ongoing threat to the public. Increased police patrols have been initiated around other LGBTQ-friendly businesses in the region. Police Chief Monica Prieto remarked, “Bias-based crimes are especially heinous and have no place in our community.”
Details about whether Ceesay had prior acquaintance with the victims remain undisclosed. The department is awaiting further information from the medical examiner concerning Ceesay’s injuries.
“Venture-N has been a safe haven, a sanctuary, and a place of comfort for Tucson’s queer community for decades,”stated PFLAG Phoenix in a social media message.
Flowers, candles, and photos have been placed at a growing memorial for Siqueiros and Capara outside of the Venture-N Bar. Several community organizations, including Tucson Queerstory and the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation, plan to hold a candlelight vigil.
Mary O’Donoghue, executive director of Southern Arizona Senior Pride, shared that the shooting shocked the LGBTQIA+ community, stirring painful memories and diminishing a sense of safety. “We’re talking about folks that are in their 70s and 80s, having lived through Stonewall and other experiences where there has been discrimination, aggression, and violence,” she explained.
Some members of the community have experienced similar violence before, like the Colorado Springs nightclub shooting in 2022 or the Pulse nightclub attack in 2016 in Orlando, Florida.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero described the incident as a “direct and devastating attack on our LGBTQ+ community” and criticized it as another “senseless act of gun violence.” Romero emphasized that this incident is a “painful reminder that homophobia is still rampant in our country.”