STORM2K

http://www.tampabays10.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=6379 Is someone targeting gay men in Tampa Bay??

My first thought was "serial killer?" since the article makes a point of mentioning both are male, white, gay, and 26 years old. But then it mentions that they disappeared within 24 hours of each other, which eliminates the SK possibility.

Since the body of one was believed to have been discovered in the back seat of a Jeep of his friend, I'd have to wonder where the friend was at the time of the victim's death.

In the article, the journalist wrote:He also says that a string of gay-bashing crimes should prompt members of the Bay area’s gay community to be careful.

How come they didn't elaborate this? What kinds of crimes? Beatings? Hate graffiti? I can't tell if those crimes could be related in any way to those missing men or not.

GalvestonDuck wrote:My first thought was "serial killer?" since the article makes a point of mentioning both are male, white, gay, and 26 years old. But then it mentions that they disappeared within 24 hours of each other, which eliminates the SK possibility.

Since the body of one was believed to have been discovered in the back seat of a Jeep of his friend, I'd have to wonder where the friend was at the time of the victim's death.

In the article, the journalist wrote:He also says that a string of gay-bashing crimes should prompt members of the Bay area’s gay community to be careful.

How come they didn't elaborate this? What kinds of crimes? Beatings? Hate graffiti? I can't tell if those crimes could be related in any way to those missing men or not.

I don't know. I guess maybe they are trying to figure it out?? or sadly maybe they just don't care. This post had 18 views and two responses..sad IMHO.

I saw the first report this morning. A predator is a predator whether they target men women or children, gay or straight. I hope they catch the culprits and hang them

Seems they are just jumping to the conclusion that it is because they are gay.. Im sure 2 other people went missing the same day that were straight, betcha no one is saying someone must be targeting straight men.. Not saying the arent being targeted... Just saying lets not assume because they are gay the are being targeted.. Thats like tow black guys, or two white guys going missing, and everyone just saying it must be because of there color.. I just dont like conclusions and self segragating like that... BTW rainband... I was one of the 18 views that did not respond.. Not sad, I just dont feel the need to post in every thread.. Dont let your emotional attachments to the story, get the better of you to the point where you start saying negative things about your s2k family

Bottom line is.. Whoever it is, and why ever they are doing it.. They need to be caught and DEALT with

There have been a rash of crimes commited against gay persons in the Tampa Bay area recently. When they are caught, I say let the victims of their crimes deal out the punishment!

Sorry this is just an emotional issue for me and BTW I dont respond to every post either. Straight people dont get targeted because of who they are. Unfortunately Gay people do sometimes. Sorry but thats the truth wether you admit it or not. Am I wrong?

To be honest, I can't yet see how they could be suspected to be hate crimes without knowing the details of the other crimes. The one incident sounds like an isolated case that could have involved the friend who owned the Jeep. Nothing points to it being a hate crime, but it could be foul play.

There have been many mornings when I turn on the Houston news and hear reports of robberies/shootings at convenient stores overnight. At the risk of sounding bigoted, many of the owners of these stores seem to be Asian or Middle Eastern. However, these crimes are not crimes motivated by hate. They are crimes motivated by either greed and/or need (crack addicts in need of money to get their fix). The victims just so happen to be of a certain minority race also, but they weren't targeted because of their race or nationality.

I'm not saying the two in Tampa weren't targeted because they were gay. I don't know all the facts yet. But I think it's a possible coincidence that two gay men disappeared on the same night, but in unrelated situations.

Sorry this is just an emotional issue for me and BTW I dont respond to every post either. Straight people dont get targeted because of who they are. Unfortunately Gay people do sometimes. Sorry but thats the truth wether you admit it or not. Am I wrong?

Your saying Straight people dont get targeted??????????? ummmm.. then I guess I would have to say your wrong.. Not being rude or trying to offend you rainband.. Just giving you what ive seen so far.. To just assume they went missing because there gay just isnt sound enough... Im just saying it should of been reported that two guys went missing.. Just seems there jumping to this conclusion because it makes it a more interesting story for them for some reason, and causes more hoopla

I guess Chad's point is that there isn't ny proof that they were targeted because they are gay. Remember that the news stations are just reporting it that way now because it makes a better story. SO far I've not seen anything substantial that it's a fact.

They don't usually get targeted for being straight. How many cases have you heard where someone got beat up while the perps yelled, "Breeder!" at them?

Yes, they may not get targeted just because they are straight, (im sure it has happend though) but straight people get targeted.. Im not arguing that gay people dont get targed for hate crimes.. Trust me.. I know they do

(Sorry, Duck I had to chuckle at that one)

I think the point is, most of the time when someone gets murdered it is due to hate. Just to label it a hate crime, because the victim(s) is part of a minority, to me is a misnomer. What is it when they kill a straight, white male A love crime? No, hate is involved even if not directly attached to the victim. I agree with Marshall that the media gives out the attached "minority" labels, because it sells more commercials.

That's not to say that the Perpetrators don't deserve to be dealt with, but in no more severe a manner than they would be for harming a non-minority

GalvestonDuck wrote:They don't usually get targeted for being straight. How many cases have you heard where someone got beat up while the perps yelled, "Breeder!" at them?

My point is that there isn't any evidence in this case yet that these are related. The facts are that more gays get killed by other gays than by hate crimes. Let's just keep an eye out and see how this plays out before we yell gay bashing....

This sounds like andrew cunanen. Either him or those lone-wolf militants that bomb abortion clinics/shoot up jewish daycares/etc...

chadtm80 wrote:Yes, they may not get targeted just because they are straight, (im sure it has happend though) but straight people get targeted.. Im not arguing that gay people dont get targed for hate crimes.. Trust me.. I know they do

. I hope they are jumping to conclusions..I would rather them be wrong on this.

GalvestonDuck wrote:My first thought was "serial killer?" since the article makes a point of mentioning both are male, white, gay, and 26 years old. But then it mentions that they disappeared within 24 hours of each other, which eliminates the SK possibility.

Confused me on that one....there is nothing saying that becasue they were committed within 24 hrs of each other that it rules out serial killers. Although that may be the normal profiling of SK, does not by any stretch mean that it is not a serial situation.

mf_dolphin wrote:

GalvestonDuck wrote:They don't usually get targeted for being straight. How many cases have you heard where someone got beat up while the perps yelled, "Breeder!" at them?

My point is that there isn't any evidence in this case yet that these are related. The facts are that more gays get killed by other gays than by hate crimes. Let's just keep an eye out and see how this plays out before we yell gay bashing....

I agree. See my post above. I don't think they're necessarily related either.

Anthony -- glad you got a chuckle. I was hoping to elicit more than one laugh with my "breeder" comment.

Bliz -- no, nothing in the article says that they're ruling out serial killers. Nothing in the article mentions serial killers. That was my take on the issue when they first addressed the similarities of the victims, but then they mentioned the time frame. I'm saying that the 24 hours deal rules out the serial killer possibility since most serial killers carefully plan their crime against each specific victim. They commit the crime. Then they have what's called a "cooling off" period where they delve on their previous crime, sometimes re-fantasizing about it with some piece of memorabilia (hair, an ID, item of clothing, or something like that). Days, months, or even years later, they commit the next crime in the series.

In short, what I'm saying is that I can't yet tell that the two are related -- either by motive or method.

The one man was the body in the jeep the other one that disappeared on the same night from the same place is still missing As are the other two from sarasota from 1 year or so ago. It may or not be connected but they need to do everything they can to find out what happened. Sad..very sad