An employee of an adult store in the Gayborhood was shot last weekend, and the shop’s owner says the incident was motivated by antigay animus.
The shooting happened around 3:40 a.m. July 18 at Danny’s Midnight Confessions, 133 S. 13th St.
Danny’s owner Danny Liss said a man entered the store and made a derogatory comment about its LGBT merchandise to one of the two employees working at the time. He left, then returned a moment later inquiring about heterosexual materials.
When the employee began walking toward that section, the man pulled out a silver revolver and spun the victim around by the shoulder. The employee attempted to push away the man’s arm and he shot him in the back.
The shooter fled and the 31-year-old victim was transported to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. He was released Monday night.
As of presstime, the culprit remains on the loose. Multiple calls to the police LGBT liaison were not returned by pressstime.
Nellie Fitzpatrick, the city’s director of LGBT Affairs, called the shooting “appalling,” and said initial reports do indicate that it was motivated by antigay bias.
“Gleaning from the information we have at this point, this was an act of bias and hate. To make derogatory slurs under these circumstances and then moments later return and shoot this victim, in this store, in this area, in this manner, sends a message — a terrifying message that LGBT people provoke rage that is deserving of death,” she said.
Philadelphia adopted an LGBT-inclusive hate-crime law this past fall, following an alleged gay bashing of a same-sex couple. Fitzpatrick cautioned that a potential hate-crime charge would add a summary offense to the list of charges, punishable by a fine and up to 90 days in jail. Pennsylvania’s hate-crimes law does not include protections for LGBT people.
“Once we get to the point of charges, only the police and District Attorney are privy to all of the facts needed to make decisions associated with charging,” Fitzpatrick said. “It is easy for us to speculate on charges based on what we have learned so far, but I would urge everyone to remain focused on sharing the information needed to bring this shooter in. For now, the most important question of all is, where is the shooter?”
Liss is offering a reward for information leading to the suspect’s arrest. The reward amount had not been determined as of presstime.
The shooter did not attempt to steal any merchandise or money from the store, which, coupled with his antigay remarks, reflect his motive, Liss contended.
“This had nothing to do with a robbery or an argument or anything,” Liss said. “This guy was calm as could be before this happened and so was the employee, that’s the shock of it all.”
All of the store’s 15 employees have reviewed surveillance video of the culprit but no one recognized him, Liss said.
The shooter is described as a black male in his mid-20s, between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9, with a thin build, beard and a dark complexion. He was wearing silver-rimmed glasses, a dark hoodie with U.S.A. on the front and white sneakers at the time of the shooting.
Liss, who opened Danny’s nearly 40 years ago, said that, while his store has been robbed in the past, there has never been an anti-LGBT incident of this nature before.
“This is a situation that is unacceptable in our society and especially in our city,” Liss said. “We are committed to do whatever is needed to bring this individual to justice.”
The employee, who began working for the store six weeks ago, is planning to return to work, Liss said.
“He’s the newest employee and has been working out really well. He’s a great guy and everybody really likes him. I give him a lot of credit.”
Police say the suspect should be considered armed and dangerous. View surveillance of the incident at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfBIZhs1-qE&feature=youtu.be.
“There’s no place in our city for any type of violence, hate-driven or otherwise,” Fitzpatrick said. “I hope that citizens share this video and information to help police get this dangerous individual off the streets.”
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 215-686-3093, 215-686-3060 or 215-686-TIPS.