It also produced a newopenness and support of homosexuality.
The case shocked this blue-collar city of about 95,000 people atthe foot of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. He shot both, then turned and opened fire on theothers. 22 shooting, which left 43-year-old Danny Lee Overstreetdead and two others with serious injuries.Īccording to witnesses, Gay entered the bar, ordered a beer andopened fire when he saw Overstreet and a friend, John Collins, bendto hug each other. He had faced up to four life terms plus 60 years in prison forthe Sept. Gay also told police he was upset over the slangconnotation of his last name.
In court and ininterviews with police, the gunman said he was on a mission to killgay people. Gay, a 55-year-old drifter, had pleaded guilty to first-degreemurder and six malicious wounding charges.
