‘I’m Going to Come Back Orlando-Style!’: Gay Bars Across US Receive Threats in Wake of Attack

Authorities Report Incidents in Atlanta, Houston, New York City, San Diego, Seattle

Authorities in at least five major cities have reported terroristic threats made against gay bars and the LGBT community in the wake of the shooting that left 49 people dead at Pulse Orlando early Sunday. 

Police have increased patrols in LGBT entertainment districts across the country, and law enforcement is encouraging people to follow the practice of, “If you see something, say something,” and call 911 if they witness a threat. 

“If we give up our freedoms, (terrorists) win. If we become fearful, they win. That should never happen,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard told The Oakland Press. “What we should do is become more united, more engaged and more situationally aware — individually and as a society.”

In Atlanta, police reportedly have questioned a gay man, Brett Edgerton, who posted threatening messages against two local gay bars on Twitter. 

“TEN or Blake’s could be the next Orlando,” Edgerton wrote. “You think I am the type to be the next ‘shooter’? Keep hating me then.” 

“You are all dead to me,” Edgerton wrote later. 

Atlanta police, who tracked down Edgerton after receiving tips about the tweets, say he is cooperating with their investigation, and they don’t believe either bar is in danger, according to a report from Project Q. 

In Houston, police are investigating a threat made on Twitter against the city’s upcoming LGBT Pride parade. 

“There will be a massive shooting at the pride parade in Houston, Texas,” read the post from an account that has since been deleted. 

Police say they’re trying to determine who made the threat, according to AbOUT magazine.  

Meanwhile, New York City police arrested a man early Monday after he made threats against HappyFun Hideaway, a neighborhood bar with many LGBT patrons in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood. Justin Rice, 40, had been kicked out of the bar by a bouncer for arguing loudly with his girlfriend, according to DNAinfo.com and The New York Daily News. 

“I’m going to come back Orlando-style!” Rice reportedly yelled. “I’m going to shoot this place up and get my 50 just like Orlando, Florida.”

Rice punched the bouncer and threw a metal bucket filled with sand at him, while screaming, “Fuck you faggots, fuck that faggot, I’ll kill you faggots!”

The bouncer suffered minor injuries but managed to restrain Rice until police arrived. He is charged with aggravated assault, aggravated harassment, making a terrorist threat and menacing as a hate crime. 

The New York Post reports other gay bars in the city have received threatening phone calls. 

In Washington state, authorities says online threats against gay bars in Seattle and Tacoma are not credible. The FBI interviewed a Spokane man who posted the threats but did not find “reason to suggest a pending physical threat,” according to The News Tribune.

According to 10News.com, the ad in the men-seeking-men sub-section of the site stated: “We need more Orlando’s (sic). Orlando was long overdue. Cleanse your community of the filth that gives decent gay men and women a bad name. Those people were walking diseases, bug chasers, and thank god for AIDS and 9-11 and now Orlando. San Diego you are next…”

Watch 10News.com’s report below. 

 

Image via Facebook