(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) U.S. President Joe Biden said on Sunday that 'yet another
community in America has been torn apart by gun violence' in the
wake of the Colorado Springs attack, trend reports citing xinhua .
At least five people were killed and 18 others injured in a
shooting late Saturday at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs,
the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado,
according to police.
'Gun violence continues to have a devastating and particular
impact on LGBTQI+ communities across our nation and threats of
violence are increasing,' Biden said in a statement.
'Places that are supposed to be safe spaces of acceptance and
celebration should never be turned into places of terror and
violence,' he said. 'We cannot and must not tolerate hate.'
Nearly 40,000 lives have been taken by gun violence across the
United States so far this year, according to the latest data
released by the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research
group.
'More families left with an empty chair at the table and hole in
their lives that cannot be filled,' Biden said on Sunday. 'When
will we decide we've had enough?'
He urged efforts to 'address the public health epidemic of gun
violence in all of its forms' and 'enact an assault weapons ban to
get weapons of war off America's streets.'
Also on Sunday, local officials said that the suspected shooter,
identified as 22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich, is in custody.
A long rifle was used in the shooting with two firearms found at
the scene, Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez told
reporters.
'The motive of the crime is part of the investigation,' Vasquez
said. 'Whether this was a hate crime is a part of that
investigation.'
The attacked nightclub issued a statement early Sunday morning,
saying that it 'is devastated by the senseless attack on our
community.'
'Our prays and thoughts are with all the victims and their
families and friends,' the statement read. 'We thank the quick
reactions of heroic customers that subdued the gunman and ended
this hate attack.'
MENAFN20112022000187011040ID1105210131
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.