Tucson police said they are probing a deadly shooting that occurred outside a gay bar as a hate crime after two men were killed and a third man, believed to be the shooter, later died in hospital. Officials reported that when officers arrived at the scene they found three men with gunshot wounds; two of those victims were pronounced dead at the location.
The two men who died at the scene were identified by police as 42-year-old Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and 33-year-old Cameron Davis Capara. The third man, who was believed to be the shooter, was taken to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival, police said.
Authorities identified the suspect as 44-year-old Ousman Ceesay. Police noted that the man had a gunshot wound but did not immediately release additional details about how he received that injury. Investigators said they found a note in the suspect's possession that listed several businesses associated with the LGBTQIA+ community.
"The Tucson Police Department is currently investigating this homicide as a hate crime," the department said in a statement. Police said initial evidence indicated the suspect confronted the victims in the parking lot of the Venture-N bar and shot them, and they emphasized there was no active threat to the community.
In response to the incident, the Human Rights Campaign, the largest U.S. LGBTQ advocacy organization, issued a statement that read: "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."
Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the shootings and the content of the note recovered from the suspect. Officials have not released further information about the timeline of events leading up to the violence, the specific circumstances of the suspect's wound, or any potential connections between the victims and the businesses listed in the note.
Local authorities reiterated that there is no ongoing danger to the public while they work to complete their investigation and gather additional evidence. The community response and longer-term implications are being monitored by public safety officials and advocacy groups, as the probe remains active.