DENVER (KDVR) — Survivors and families of the victims of the mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs have filed joint lawsuits against the El Paso County Board of Commissioners, the former sheriff Bill Elder, and the club itself, nearly two years to the day since the deadly shooting occurred.

The lawsuits allege that law enforcement could have prevented the shooting, where five people were killed and 25 others injured, if law enforcement previously enacted Colorado’s red flag law. Officially called “Extreme Risk Protection Orders,” the law allows people to petition a court to remove firearms from a person found to be at risk of harming themselves or others.

Both lawsuits allege that the shooter had a history of violent threats and “behavior that clearly warranted intervention.” However, the lawsuit filed on behalf of Club Q victim Barrett Hudson alleges that law enforcement’s inaction and failure to use Colorado’s Red Flag law to limit the shooter’s access to weapons “enabled” the attack on Club Q.

The other lawsuit alleges that Club Q’s owner, Matthew Haynes, did not have proper security at the club when the gunman opened fire inside. The suit says that in 2022 there was an increased awareness of the need for security at LGBTQIA+ nightclubs. The suit alleges that Haynes reduced the security team in 2022 from five security guards, including one who was armed, to just one, who was not armed.

“Haynes’ negligence in providing adequate security measures created a dangerous environment for Club Q patrons,” Hudson’s lawsuit alleges. “Despite foreseeable risks, Haynes failed to implement effective security protocols, which ultimately led to the tragic loss of life and numerous injuries.”

The other lawsuit was filed on behalf of three Club Q patrons who were killed that night during the attack, alongside several other involved individuals, against the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, the sheriff, Club Q, Matthew Haynes, and other stakeholders.

This is a developing story. Check back later for more details on these federal lawsuits.