Milwaukee City Wire

Wisconsin state Sen. LaTonya Johnson is extending her sympathies for the families of the victims of the deadly Colorado Springs gay nightclub shooting that left five dead and dozens more injured.

“When people, especially those in marginalized communities, don’t feel safe in their own neighborhood, the ripple effect of that trauma can feel overwhelming,” Johnson tweeted. “My heart is with the families, friends and community members harmed by this tragedy.”

Anderson Lee Aldrich now faces an array of charges stemming from the violence, which police told CNN broke out just after midnight on the night of Nov. 19, when he walked into the Club Q nightclub and opened fire before being confronted by at least two people inside the club who fought with him.

Army veteran Richard M. Fierro, who was at the club with his wife, daughter and friends watching a drag show, was one of the patrons who fought with Aldrich. According to the New York Times, Fierro told investigators he saw a flash of gunfire shoot through the nightclub. Fierro, who according to the article served four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, said he then charged through the club, eventually tackling the gunmen and snatching away the weapon that he used to beat him with.

Fierro said as he called out for help other patrons in the club became involved, before police arrived just minutes later. At some point, the gunman was knocked unconscious by Fierro, and he and others are now credited with preventing the death count from growing even higher.

“We owe them a great debt of thanks,” Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez told CNN, adding authorities found a long rifle and two firearms at the scene of the shooting.

Police said they are now investigating if the attack was a hate crime, highlighting Club Q’s relationship with the LGBTQ community.

“Club Q is a safe haven for our LGBTQ citizens,” Vasquez said. “Every citizen has a right to feel safe and secure in our city, to go about our beautiful city without fear of being harmed or treated poorly.”