Two Killed Outside Tucson Gay Bar in Suspected Hate Crime
Officials said the shooter had a list of LGBTQ-associated businesses.
Warning: Some readers may find details of violence in this story upsetting.
Authorities say a gunman shot and killed two men outside a gay bar in Tucson, Arizona, early Monday.
Vincent Anthony Siqueiros, 42, and Cameron Davis Capara, 33, were both found dead at the scene at Venture-N, police said in a news release.
The suspected shooter then turned the gun on himself, local outlet Tucson.com reports. He later died at the hospital. Police are investigating the shooting as a hate crime.
“I am deeply saddened that another senseless loss of life has happened in our community,” Chief Monica Prieto said in a statement, the outlet reports. “Bias-based crimes are especially heinous and have no place in our community.”
The shooter, 44-year-old Ousman Ceesay, had a list of LGBTQ+ businesses, according to Tucson Mayor Regina Romero.
Authorities said there appeared to have been some type of confrontation in the parking lot around 12:30 am local time.
“All of a sudden we hear maybe 10 gunshots outside the door,” a local man told Tucson.com. “All of a sudden we see a tall guy walking through the door, blood coming out near his armpit. He said, ‘I’m shot.’”
He said he held the man’s head while others tried to stop the bleeding. “He was bleeding pretty bad. He bled out and died maybe within a minute. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life,” he said.
Queer outlet LOOKOUT reports that the two men who were killed were known at the bar and in the community. “Cameron Davis Capara, was a regular at the bar and a photographer within the fetish community. The other victim, 42-year-old Vincent Anthony Siqueiros, was described by friends as a pillar of the queer community,” LOOKOUT reports. People called Capara “a cinnamon roll as a person” and Siqueiros someone who made the bar special.
LOOKOUT described the bar’s parking lot as still a crime scene during the day Monday.
“We recognize this incident may cause fear and pain within our community,” Prieto said.
Tucscon.com reports Prieto said police will increase patrols around queer venues and work with community organizations in order to provide additional support.
U.S. Rep. Adelita S. Grijalva, who represents part of Tuscon in Congress, condemned the shooting.
“I am disgusted and deeply saddened to learn of a targeted act of hate and the cold-blooded murder of two members of our LGBTQIA+ community, Vincent Siqueiros and Cameron Capara, at the Venture-N bar in Tucson last night. This horrific attack is a painful reminder that even in welcoming communities like Tucson, hate and violence against the LGBTQIA+ community still exist,” she said in a statement. “When that hate is combined with easy access to firearms, the consequences can be deadly. I am sick and tired of Congress refusing to lift a finger to protect our communities while, every day, dozens of people are shot and killed across the country. It does not have to be this way. The House of Representatives is returning to session this week, and our first action should be passing common-sense gun safety reforms that we know can save lives.”
She added: “In Tucson, we must come together as one city, mourn alongside the victims’ families and friends, and stand with our LGBTQIA+ community in saying in the most unconditional terms: everyone is welcome in Tucson, and hate has no place here.”
Reactions on the shooting also began emerging nationwide later on Monday.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and Cameron Davis Capara and our hearts are with their families, loved ones, and the entire Tucson LGBTQ+ community,” said Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson in a statement to GO.
“Once again, we are reminded that gun violence robs people of their lives, destroys families, and devastates communities. Learning the gunman was targeting LGBTQ+ friendly businesses is both chilling and enraging, and yet another dangerous example of the hate and bigotry that makes all Americans less safe,” she said. “The Human Rights Campaign stands with LGBTQ+ people across Arizona in this moment, and always. We will never stop working to build a country where all of us can live openly and safely.”
