The Colorado Springs mayor displays on the Membership Q capturing : NPR

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

We’ll begin with the newest details about one other horrific act of gun violence in the USA, a capturing at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs simply earlier than midnight final night time the place 5 individuals had been killed and at the least 25 others had been wounded. Police have recognized a person named Anderson Lee Aldrich as a suspect, and so they say he was rapidly confronted by patrons and brought into custody by police. Hours earlier than the assault, Membership Q, the place the capturing came about, posted on Fb a couple of brunch they had been planning for this morning to mark Transgender Day of Remembrance, which honors transgender individuals who have misplaced their lives due to anti-transgender violence. So far, although, police haven’t but decided or haven’t but disclosed a potential motivation, so it is not clear whether or not this was a hate crime.

We needed to study extra about how the neighborhood is responding and the way the investigation is continuing, so we’re joined now by the mayor of Colorado Springs, John Suthers. Mr. Mayor, thanks a lot for taking the time. I do know you are coping with fairly a bit at present.

JOHN SUTHERS: Nicely, Michel, thanks in your concern and all of the expressions of help we have obtained from across the nation.

MARTIN: And, in fact, this isn’t a name that anybody desires to get. Do you thoughts if I ask the way you’re doing?

SUTHERS: Michel, I have been in legislation enforcement. I have been a district legal professional. I have been legal professional basic and U.S. legal professional. And so sadly, occasions of this nature aren’t overseas to me, however you by no means get used to it. And so we’re doing what we’ve to do to rally the neighborhood, help these victims and ensure we do that proper in order that justice is served.

MARTIN: I do need to refer extra to your expertise as legal professional basic in only a minute. However earlier than we do, I need to return to the information of this occasion. Are you able to inform us any extra concerning the investigation? Do we all know any extra about what motivated this particular person?

SUTHERS: Nicely, there’s loads that is nonetheless beneath investigation, together with motive. Clearly, we’re checking social media. We’re checking, you understand, his communications with different individuals and issues like that. It definitely has the trimmings, Michel, of a hate crime, however it’s too early to designate it as such as a result of we – the motive actually is a matter of investigation at this time limit. We do know, as you indicated, or I feel I heard in an earlier report, that there was heroic motion by patrons of those – of this membership. Police responded in a short time. The primary name got here in at 11:57 p.m. Police had been there by 12 midnight, inside three minutes. This complete incident was over by 12:02. And that was largely due to the intervention of at the least one, maybe further patrons who heroically took one of many – took a handgun from the person and hit him with the handgun and disabled him.

MARTIN: I do need to ask you – you talked about that you’ve got been – you’ve beforehand served as legal professional basic of the state. Virtually seven years in the past precisely, there was a capturing at a Deliberate Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs that left three individuals useless. I’m wondering in case your time as legal professional basic and your public service in legislation enforcement to this point has given you some perspective on whether or not or not you suppose this space has an issue with crimes motivated by bias.

SUTHERS: Are you speaking about nationwide, ours specifically? What’s…

MARTIN: I am speaking concerning the space. I am simply asking that it – you understand, it is not a secret that this previous election 12 months – and we solely have a few seconds left – this previous election 12 months did see some campaigns that featured and form of leaned into anti-gay or anti-trans rhetoric.

SUTHERS: Yeah.

MARTIN: And I do surprise in the event you suppose that that could be a issue right here.

SUTHERS: It definitely might.

MARTIN: As briefly as you may.

SUTHERS: We now have no potential to say it’s at this time limit on this. However you noticed what occurred in Orlando. It is clearly a matter of super concern. I agree with President Biden’s feedback concerning the form of potential bias crime. And we are going to do all the pieces we are able to to find out precisely what the motive was right here.

MARTIN: And earlier than we allow you to go – I’ve solely about 10 seconds left – are you able to simply inform me about how the neighborhood is coping with this at present? This can be a horrible incident.

SUTHERS: There’s neighborhood capabilities already – vigils. I have been to 1 already. I feel there is a couple this night, and I am positive there can be a number of within the days coming. There can be overwhelming public help, together with financially, to assist these victims.

MARTIN: That was the mayor of Colorado Springs, John Suthers. Mr. Mayor, thanks a lot for becoming a member of us on such a tough day.

SUTHERS: Thanks, Michel.

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