Stateside The suspect in the Colorado Springs gay club mass shooting has been arrested. He may face charges of murder and hate crimes. The news agency reports on the matter, among others WHD and a newspaper The New York Times.

According to the police, five people died and 25 were injured in the mass shooting before the attacker was stopped, reports the news channel CNN.

In Colorado, authorities have praised customers for stopping the shooter. A 22-year-old man is suspected of having attacked the Club Q gay club on Saturday shortly before midnight and immediately opened fire.

Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquezin according to at least two customers fought the attacker and thus prevented the violence from continuing.

“We owe them a big thank you,” he said, according to CNN.

Mayor of Colorado Springs John Suther stated that one of the customers took this gun from the attacker and hit the attacker with it. Another customer helped keep the attacker at bay until the police arrived, says the British Broadcasting Corporation BBC.

The night club was also praised for its customers’ activities on the Facebook page in a statement released Sunday afternoon.

“We appreciate the quick response of heroic customers who subdued the gunman and stopped this hate crime,” the statement said.

Earlier on Sunday, the authorities said that the shooting was not classified as a hate crime for now, but it was said that murder charges were certain.

The police noted the nightclub’s importance to sexual and gender minorities and said they would investigate whether it was a hate crime.

“Club Q is a haven for our lgbtq citizens,” Police Chief Vasquez said, according to CNN.

International Day of Transgender Remembrance was celebrated on Sunday. On Memorial Day, trans people who died due to violence are remembered.

Mass murderers have carried out several attacks in the United States on gathering places of sexual and gender minorities. In 2016, an attack on a Florida nightclub killed 49 people.

Gun violence is a large and widespread problem in the United States. Gun Violence Archive – website, there have been more than 600 mass shootings in the country this year, when taking into account those attacks in which at least four people have been shot, excluding the attacker.

Governor of Colorado Jared Polis called the shooting gruesome, sickening and shocking. In 2018, he became the first openly gay man to be elected governor in the United States.

Correction 22.11. at 5:29 p.m.: Contrary to what was previously reported in the story, charges have not yet been officially filed in the case.

Read more: At least five dead in shooting at gay club in Colorado