AP Top News
Man Opens Fire in Gay Bar, Kills 1
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.

09/23/2000