Tucson vigil honors Cameron Capara, Vincent Siqueiros

For Tucson’s LGBTQ+ community, the vigil at Catalina Park became a public statement of grief and defiance after Cameron Davis Capara and Vincent Anthony Siqueiros were killed outside Venture-N, a midtown gay bar. Hundreds of community members, allies and relatives gathered with candles and messages rejecting hate. The Tucson Police Department has described the shooting as a targeted hate crime against the LGBTQIA+ community, making the gathering both a memorial and a show of solidarity for people who say the attack has shaken a community already carrying earlier losses.

Tucson Queerstory organized the vigil with the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation and the Southern Arizona Senior Pride Foundation. Speakers and attendees remembered Capara and Siqueiros as people who were fully themselves, rather than reducing them to the circumstances of their deaths. Randy Pease, a co-founder of Tucson Queerstory, said the scale of the gathering reflected an outpouring of love for two men who had become important to many people. John Barnes, the organization’s vice president, said some members of the community are still grieving losses from the past.

The vigil followed a growing memorial outside Venture-N. By sunset, flowers, candles and other offerings covered part of the wall near two framed photographs of the men. Among the items left there were beer cans, a gesture that reflected the bar’s role in Siqueiros’ life and the place where many friends knew both men. Alli and Brandon Lee visited with their two daughters, partly to pay respects and partly to see Capara’s truck, which remained parked near the memorial after appearing in news footage and photographs.

Alli Lee had been Capara’s closest friend for more than a decade and lived with him for several years. She described him as a brother to her and an uncle to her daughters, including her one year old daughter, whom she introduced to his photograph by saying, “Look, it’s your Uncle Cam.” Lee said Capara brought attention to painful issues that others preferred to avoid, using his public presence to encourage change. She remembered him as full of energy, affection and curiosity about other people.

Capara was also well known in Tucson’s protest and demonstration circles. He frequently wore a flak jacket marked “Press” and carried a camera while documenting dissent from close range. Lee said she was proud that he consistently showed up for people experiencing hate and refused to ignore injustice. Capara had recently reconnected with Siqueiros, she said, and was happy about the renewed friendship. His father, Jeff Capara, told the vigil that his son should be remembered for the way he lived, not only for the way he was killed. He closed by urging the crowd not to let the attackers win, a message met with cheers and applause.

Siqueiros, often called Vinny by friends, was described as a familiar and welcoming presence at Venture-N. Brian King, a regular at the bar and an Uber driver, said he met Siqueiros about a year and a half ago. King recalled him as funny, caring and generous, someone who could make people feel welcome and who seemed to notice everything happening around him. Siqueiros’ sister, Kate Marquez, said her brother had faced pain from a young age, but chose to live with joy and fearlessness. Their adopted mother, Dianna Marquez, also spoke at the vigil, praying that Siqueiros could see how deeply he was loved.

Authorities say Capara and Siqueiros were in the Venture-N parking lot when they were confronted by Ousman Ceesay. Investigators say Ceesay fatally shot both men before turning the gun on himself. The two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while Ceesay was taken to a hospital and later died. Investigators found a note on Ceesay that listed other businesses known to be welcoming to LGBTQ+ people, a detail that has heightened fears among local residents and business owners. The investigation is being treated as hate related, although the source material does not describe a further conclusion about motive or any surviving suspect.

The killings have also prompted calls for political action beyond Tucson. Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva said the danger becomes especially severe when anti LGBTQ+ hate is combined with easy access to firearms. She called on Congress to approve gun safety measures when the House returned to session. At the memorial, however, some community members emphasized that accountability also means neighbors taking care of one another and supporting policies that could make LGBTQ+ spaces safer. King said the deaths should motivate people to participate, use their voices and vote, recalling that he and Capara had planned to organize voters, with Capara bringing people together and King providing rides to the polls.

The gathering at Catalina Park gave families and friends a chance to honor two distinct lives while confronting a shared threat. Capara’s father urged attendees to focus on his son’s activism, warmth and commitment to others. Siqueiros’ family remembered his courage, humor and capacity for joy. As candles were lit and the crowd joined in messages against hate, the vigil underscored both the pain of the shooting and the strength of Tucson’s LGBTQ+ community when it comes together. The memorial at Venture-N and the response from local organizations show that the mourning will continue, along with efforts to protect the places where people gather to live openly.