Sep 23, 2000 - 05:13 PM
Gunman Opens Fire in Gay Bar, Kills One
By Kia Shant'e Breaux
Associated Press Writer
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) - A man who said he wanted to shoot gay
people and asked the way to the nearest gay bar later opened fire
there, killing one person and wounding six others, police said.
The gunman walked into the Backstreet Cafe late Friday, ordered
a beer and after a few minutes pulled a handgun from his coat and
began firing, said police spokeswoman Shelly Alley.
Seven of the 25 people in the bar were wounded, one critically.
Danny Lee Overstreet, 43, died at the scene in what police were
investigating as a hate crime.
Members of the city's gay and lesbian community planned a vigil
at the bar Saturday night.
Ronald Edward Gay, 53, was charged with murder and was being
held without bail Saturday. Additional charges were expected,
Alley said.
Police said Gay had been in a different bar Friday and had asked
patrons there where the city's nearest gay bar was, telling
witnesses he wanted to shoot some gay people.
One person gave the man directions and then called police, who
arrived at the Backstreet Cafe shortly after the shooting.
Officers found Gay walking down a street about two blocks from
the Backstreet Cafe and arrested him, Alley said. She said police
found a 9 mm pistol in a trash can near the bar.
Alley said Gay confirmed the witness reports and admitted during
questioning that he wanted to shoot gay people, but gave no
motive.
He was carrying identification listing a home address in Citrus
Springs, Fla., but Alley said he had been living at various Roanoke
addresses for about a year, including a campground and a motel a
few blocks from the bar.
Gay is named in a Citrus County warrant accusing him of
trespassing in July and an injunction against domestic violence,
both misdemeanors. He did not have a record in Roanoke, Alley
said.
Overstreet's sister, Darlene Overstreet, said her brother often
visited the Backstreet Cafe.
"He just stopped by to have a beer, that's all," she said.
Five other victims of the shooting remained hospitalized Saturday.
AP-ES-09-23-00 1715EDT
© Copyright 2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Brought to you by the Tampa Bay Online Network
Gunman Opens Fire in Gay Bar, Kills One
By Kia Shant'e Breaux
Associated Press Writer
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) - A man who said he wanted to shoot gay
people and asked the way to the nearest gay bar later opened fire
there, killing one person and wounding six others, police said.
The gunman walked into the Backstreet Cafe late Friday, ordered
a beer and after a few minutes pulled a handgun from his coat and
began firing, said police spokeswoman Shelly Alley.
Seven of the 25 people in the bar were wounded, one critically.
Danny Lee Overstreet, 43, died at the scene in what police were
investigating as a hate crime.
Members of the city's gay and lesbian community planned a vigil
at the bar Saturday night.
Ronald Edward Gay, 53, was charged with murder and was being
held without bail Saturday. Additional charges were expected,
Alley said.
Police said Gay had been in a different bar Friday and had asked
patrons there where the city's nearest gay bar was, telling
witnesses he wanted to shoot some gay people.
One person gave the man directions and then called police, who
arrived at the Backstreet Cafe shortly after the shooting.
Officers found Gay walking down a street about two blocks from
the Backstreet Cafe and arrested him, Alley said. She said police
found a 9 mm pistol in a trash can near the bar.
Alley said Gay confirmed the witness reports and admitted during
questioning that he wanted to shoot gay people, but gave no
motive.
He was carrying identification listing a home address in Citrus
Springs, Fla., but Alley said he had been living at various Roanoke
addresses for about a year, including a campground and a motel a
few blocks from the bar.
Gay is named in a Citrus County warrant accusing him of
trespassing in July and an injunction against domestic violence,
both misdemeanors. He did not have a record in Roanoke, Alley
said.
Overstreet's sister, Darlene Overstreet, said her brother often
visited the Backstreet Cafe.
"He just stopped by to have a beer, that's all," she said.
Five other victims of the shooting remained hospitalized Saturday.
AP-ES-09-23-00 1715EDT
© Copyright 2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Brought to you by the Tampa Bay Online Network
