A gay San Diego, California resident, Jason “Cowboy” Huggins, was stoned to death, literally beaten with a rock so violently he sustained severe brain damage and had to be placed on life support. Huggins died two weeks later on July 6, after staying alive for eight days once life support was discontinued. Jason Huggins was a Clarksville, Tennessee native. Police reportedly arrested Joshua Larson, 37, in connection with the killing, after only two days.
10News.com on the day of Huggins’ death reported, “Early on the evening of June 22, Huggins walked out of a gorge off the 1300 block of Washington Street and flagged down a passing motorist, according to San Diego police. He was only able to tell the driver he had been beaten on the head with a rock. Medics took the victim to a trauma center, where his condition deteriorated severely.”
“Two years ago, Huggins testified against Larson in a criminal case charging the latter with drug possession and grand theft, according to a local TV station.”
A report today in Huggins’ native Tennessee paper, the Leaf-Chronicle, states, “Huggins was openly gay, and the gay community in San Diego has rallied around the incident even though police have not classified Huggins’ death as a hate crime. Authorities suspect Huggins and Larson knew each other, said Justin Newman, a close friend of Huggins.”
“We remember him being a kid with no aggressiveness in him at all,” Jennifer Sanders, Huggins’ aunt, told the Leaf-Chronicle. “He was a fun-loving, joking-type of person, a very good kid. I call him a ‘kid’ because he was like my third child. We still can’t believe that it happened. It’s still a shock. He was only 31 years old. He’s going to be well missed by all of his friends out there in San Diego and his family.”
The San Diego Lesbian and Gay News reported last week, “Larson, who is accused of bludgeoning Huggins in the head with a rock in a canyon near the 1300 block of Washington Street in Hillcrest, has been charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. The charges likely will be upgraded to murder now that Huggins has died, police said.
“Lt. Ernie Herbert of the SDPD Homicide Unit, which has been handling the case, said that the preliminary investigation revealed that Huggins was attacked during an altercation with someone known to him. The attack is not being treated as a hate crime, Herbert said.
“Huggins, whose presence was easily noticed as he stood more than 6 feet tall and regularly wore a cowboy hat, boots and big belt buckle, was affectionately known as “Cowboy” by friends and acquaintances.”
SDGLN in another report stated, “Also, those who would like to contribute to help out Huggins’ family with travel and funeral expenses may contact Newman at (619) 800-2105 or via email at jnrepairs@gmail.com.”
A Google profile with Huggins’ name and photo states, “I am a true cowboy from TN now living in sunny San Diego, CA. I am gay and have HIV too,” and adds, “Came out of the closet to all my redneck friends back in TN and was accepted because I am still a great friend that never overstepped my boundries [sic].”
Huggins, evidently well-known and well-liked in San Diego’s gay community, was laid to rest Monday, July 11, according to this Facebook page. Another mention on Facebook the day Huggins died, stated, “friends of Huggins had been holding vigil since the June 22 attack,” and “Rip Cowboy…u will be missed..”
This heartbreaking memorial video was posted to YouTube last week, two days after Huggins’ funeral.