Authorities in Arizona are currently investigating a shooting at a Tucson gay bar as a possible hate crime. The event resulted in the deaths of three individuals, including the shooter. The Tucson Police Department identified the victims as Vincent Anthony Siqueiros, aged 42, and Cameron Davis Capara, aged 33. Both were shot and killed in the parking lot of Venture-N shortly after midnight on Monday.
The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Ousman Ceesay, also succumbed to a gunshot wound and was declared dead at a nearby hospital. According to a police news release, Ceesay was found with a note listing several businesses associated with the LGBTQIA+ community. Preliminary evidence indicates that Ceesay confronted the two victims in the parking lot before shooting them.
The investigation remains active, though officials have announced there is no current threat to the community. In response, the police department has increased its presence around other gay-friendly establishments in the area.
Bias-based crimes are especially heinous and have no place in our community,stated Police Chief Monica Prieto.Our investigators are thoroughly examining the evidence and pursuing all available leads as they work to establish the full circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.
Details about the shooting remain limited, and it is unclear if there was any prior connection between Ceesay and the victims. Investigators are waiting for further information from the medical examiner regarding Ceesay’s cause of death.
A memorial has been set up outside the Venture-N Bar, with flowers, candles, and photos honoring Siqueiros and Capara. Several community organizations, including Tucson Queerstory and Southern Arizona Senior Pride, are organizing a candlelight vigil at a local park.
PFLAG Phoenix, in a social media post, emphasized the long-standing significance of Venture-N as a safe space for Tucson’s queer community. The post called the shooting a painful reminder of persisting homophobia and hate.
Mary O’Donoghue, executive director of Southern Arizona Senior Pride, expressed the shock and heartbreak felt by the LGBTQIA+ community. She noted that the incident has resurfaced traumatic memories for many older members, eroding their sense of safety.
O’Donoghue shared that one community member had previously relocated from Colorado Springs, where a 2022 shooting at a gay nightclub claimed five lives. Others moved to Tucson from places like Florida, where the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando led to 49 deaths and 53 injuries.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero condemned the shooting as a direct attack on the LGBTQ+ community, describing it as another senseless act of gun violence. In a Facebook video, Romero lamented the persistent threat of homophobia across the nation.