Authorities in Arizona are treating a shooting at a Tucson gay bar as a potential hate crime. The incident resulted in the deaths of three individuals, including the shooter himself. The Tucson Police Department identified the victims as Vincent Anthony Siqueiros, 42, and Cameron Davis Capara, 33, both shot in the Venture-N parking lot just after midnight on Monday. Ousman Ceesay, 44, the suspected shooter, also died from a gunshot wound at a local hospital.
Investigators discovered a note on Ceesay listing several LGBTQIA+-related businesses. Preliminary findings suggest he confronted Capara and Siqueiros before opening fire. Although the investigation continues, police note there is no active community threat and have, nonetheless, increased patrols near other gay-friendly establishments.
Police Chief Monica Prieto emphasized the severity of bias-based crimes, asserting, “Bias-based crimes are especially heinous and have no place in our community.” The department is meticulously examining the evidence and pursuing all leads.
Details about the shooting remain limited, and it is not yet clear if Ceesay was acquainted with the victims. Information on how Ceesay died is pending confirmation from the medical examiner.
Flowers, candles, and photos form a memorial for Siqueiros and Capara outside the Venture-N Bar.
Community groups like Tucson Queerstory and Southern Arizona Senior Pride are organizing support events, including a candlelight vigil. PFLAG Phoenix acknowledged Venture-N as a sanctuary for the Tucson queer community, expressing deep sorrow and concern over the incident.
Mary O’Donoghue, Southern Arizona Senior Pride’s executive director, noted the shock and heartbreak felt by the LGBTQIA+ community. Many seniors are re-experiencing past traumas from similar incidents, challenging their sense of safety in Tucson.
Among those affected are individuals who relocated to escape previous violence, including a survivor from Colorado Springs, where another gay venue was attacked in 2022. Others had moved from places like Florida, recalling the 2016 tragedy at Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero condemned the shooting as a “direct and devastating attack” on the LGBTQ+ community, calling it another example of senseless gun violence and an indicator that homophobia persists in the United States.