Hate crime probe opened after two killed outside Tucson gay bar by suspect with a list of LGBTQ businesses, police say
Hate Crime Probe Opened After Tucson Gay Bar Shooting
Earthguardiansonline.com – A hate crime probe opened after two men were fatally shot in the parking lot of Venture-N, a gay bar near downtown Tucson, early Monday morning. Police say the suspect arrived carrying a handwritten list naming several LGBTQ businesses in the area, a detail that immediately framed the investigation as bias-motivated. The suspect, 44-year-old Ousman Ceesay, was wounded in the exchange and later died at a local hospital.
What Happened and Who Was Killed
The victims were Vincent Anthony Siqueiros, 42, and Cameron Davis Capara, 33. Officers reported that Ceesay confronted the pair outside the bar before opening fire. Both men were pronounced dead; Ceesay was transported to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Tucson Police confirmed the case is being processed under the department’s hate-crime protocol while detectives continue gathering evidence.
Venture-N has long served as a social anchor for Tucson’s LGBTQ community. Co-owner Jose Ortega, who operates the venue with partner David Wallis, described it not as a nightclub but as a neighborhood gathering spot. “It’s a gay bar, but a neighborhood bar,” Ortega said. He noted that both victims were regular patrons and that no one connected to the establishment had ever encountered the shooter before Monday.
Owner Learns from Abroad; Community Mourns
Ortega was traveling in Mexico when the shooting occurred. The bar’s acting manager phoned him around 1 a.m. to report the incident. Ortega recounted that one of the victims had stumbled through the front door bleeding, telling staff he had been shot. “It was terrible, we didn’t know what to say,” he recalled. He and Wallis returned to Tucson as quickly as logistics allowed.
“There’s no way to express sorrow and sympathy in a proper way. This really has to be kind of an outlier. Unfortunately, we’re the ones that were affected this time.” — Jose Ortega, Venture-N co-owner
Within hours, neighbors lined the curb outside the bar with candles and flowers. Scott Blades, a longtime member of the local LGBTQ community, called the scene “heartbreaking” and “a senseless, tragic shooting,” adding that Venture-N has always been a safe gathering place. Colette Barajas, broker and owner of Centra Realty, who flies a rainbow flag at both her office and home, voiced the unease rippling through the neighborhood: “I’m nervous, you know, I’ve got my flag out there.”
Official Response and What Comes Next
Tucson Police Chief Monica Prieto announced increased visible patrols around gay establishments and condemned the violence in a public statement. “Bias-based crimes are especially heinous and have no place in our community,” Prieto said, adding that no ongoing threat to the general public had been identified at the time of her remarks. Mayor Regina Romero posted a video to her Facebook page calling the tragedy “yet another painful reminder that homophobia is still rampant in our country.” Pima County Attorney Laura Conover issued a separate statement: “No one should fear being targeted simply because of who they are and where they gather.”
The Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation announced a commemorative event for Wednesday to honor Siqueiros and Capara. Detectives remain actively engaged in the hate crime probe, continuing to examine evidence connected to the list found on the suspect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the shooting take place? The two men were killed in the parking lot of Venture-N, a gay bar located near Tucson’s downtown core. The incident occurred early Monday morning.
What prompted police to classify the case as a hate crime? Investigators say the suspect carried a written list naming multiple LGBTQ-associated businesses in the Tucson area. That detail, combined with the circumstances of the confrontation, led police to open the hate crime probe immediately.
Is the suspect still alive? No. Ousman Ceesay, 44, was wounded during the shooting and died at a nearby hospital.
Is there an ongoing threat to the public? As of the police chief’s public remarks, authorities said there was no indication of an ongoing threat to the general public, though the investigation remains active.
How can Tucson residents honor the victims? The Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation is organizing a commemorative event on Wednesday. Community members have also gathered informally outside Venture-N to leave candles and flowers.
