ArkLaTex community reacts to deadly Club Q shooting in Colorado

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) — A darkness looms once again after another deadly shooting in a public place. This time, at least five people were killed and 25 others were injured at Club Q, a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The suspect in the shooting at Club Q was identified as Anderson Lee Aldrich, according to Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez. Aldrich used a long rifle in the shooting, and two firearms were found at the scene, Vasquez said.

He faces five counts of first-degree murder and five counts of a bias-motivated crime causing bodily injury, court records show.

On Monday, Nov. 21, KSLA spoke with Shreveport LGBTQ+ advocates as they process another attack on their community.

“Horror. That’s the only way I can describe that,” said Dr. Tiffany Najberg, a Shreveport LGBTQ+ advocate.

She said she is worried about the safety of herself, her friends and others in the community. “That could’ve been here; it’s could’ve been me; it could’ve been my friends.”

Katie Bickham, vice president of People Acting for Change and Equality (PACE), said Shreveport is known as a “safe space.”

“In the last 10 years, we’ve had this wonderful renaissance where we are being more inclusive and we are welcoming queer people into the community. Especially for something like this to happen after all this progress, it can really make you feel like ‘have we made progress?’”

On Wednesday, Nov. 23, the East Texas Rainbow Network will host a vigil.

If you need support, you can reach out to PACE.

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