Police say a shooting at Venture-N, a gay bar in Tucson, Arizona, left three people dead shortly after midnight on Monday. Officers found two victims, Vincent Anthony Siqueiros, 42, and Cameron Davis Capara, 33, fatally wounded in the bar’s parking lot; both died at the scene. The suspect, 44‑year‑old Ousman Ceesay, was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Investigators say Ceesay carried a handwritten note that listed several LGBTQIA‑plus businesses, suggesting a bias motive. Initial evidence indicates he confronted the two victims in the parking lot before opening fire. While the probe continues, police have reported no active threat to the community and have increased patrols around other gay‑friendly establishments in the area.
Chief of Police Monica Prieto described bias‑based crimes as “especially heinous” and said investigators are examining all leads to determine the full circumstances. Tucson Mayor Regina Romero called the attack “a direct and devastating assault on our LGBTQ+ community” and warned that homophobia remains rampant. Local groups, including PFLAG Phoenix, Tucson Queerstory, Southern Arizona Senior Pride and the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation, have organized a candlelight vigil and placed flowers and candles at a memorial outside the bar.
The incident has revived national reminders of other anti‑LGBTQ attacks, including the July 2023 Berlin Pride shooting and the 2022 Colorado Springs nightclub massacre that killed five. NYC Pride noted that June 12 marks the ten‑year anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, which claimed 49 lives. Officials emphasized that bars, clubs and other gathering spots are meant to be safe spaces, and the Tucson shooting underscores ongoing concerns about hate‑motivated violence.
