Queersetti
Bastardo Suave
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- Apr 10, 2003
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Fear Stalks Chicago Gay Community_
by Steph Smith
365Gay.com Newscenter
Chicago Bureau
(Chicago, Illinois)_ Four unsolved gay murders in Chicago's North Side gay neighborhood have the community nervous and angry at police. The most recent killing, was two weeks ago, the others go back several years, but community activists say all the murders have chilling similarities.
All of the victims were found stabbed to death, face down, in their homes._ The crime scenes were marked by unusual violence, yet there were no signs of forced entry.
The latest victim, 31 year old_ Kevin Clewer, had been stabbed more than 30 times.
Each of the victims was killed by someone they just picked up, police speculate._ But, other than that, there are few clues, and investigators say they don't know if they are dealing with a serial killer or separate homicides.
The North Side isn't so uncertain.
"We really think that the police need to look into every murder, especially here in the gay community, and there have been so many lately, actually – as possibly being connected," said Aimee Pine of Equality Illinois.
" We can't just let them sit back and look at them individually. We really want them to see if there's a serial killer out there."
Many in the usually quiet neighborhood say police should put up alerts in the neighborhood but police are still evaluating whether or not that would be a good idea.
“I’m quite disturbed that there has been no warning to the community that someone may be out there preying on gay men," says community activist Rick Garcia._
"The police should err on the side of caution and err on the side of protecting the neighborhood and not saying anything about sends the wrong message on all sorts of levels.”
"Anybody who makes a new acquaintance with someone has to be very careful of when and how they bring them home," said Chief of Detectives James Malloy, Chicago Police Dept.
"There's kind of an on-edge feeling when you go out to a restaurant or bar in the neighborhood. People are definitely talking and definitely scared as well," said Pine.
Community leaders have scheduled a meeting with investigators for today to express their concerns.
by Steph Smith
365Gay.com Newscenter
Chicago Bureau
(Chicago, Illinois)_ Four unsolved gay murders in Chicago's North Side gay neighborhood have the community nervous and angry at police. The most recent killing, was two weeks ago, the others go back several years, but community activists say all the murders have chilling similarities.
All of the victims were found stabbed to death, face down, in their homes._ The crime scenes were marked by unusual violence, yet there were no signs of forced entry.
The latest victim, 31 year old_ Kevin Clewer, had been stabbed more than 30 times.
Each of the victims was killed by someone they just picked up, police speculate._ But, other than that, there are few clues, and investigators say they don't know if they are dealing with a serial killer or separate homicides.
The North Side isn't so uncertain.
"We really think that the police need to look into every murder, especially here in the gay community, and there have been so many lately, actually – as possibly being connected," said Aimee Pine of Equality Illinois.
" We can't just let them sit back and look at them individually. We really want them to see if there's a serial killer out there."
Many in the usually quiet neighborhood say police should put up alerts in the neighborhood but police are still evaluating whether or not that would be a good idea.
“I’m quite disturbed that there has been no warning to the community that someone may be out there preying on gay men," says community activist Rick Garcia._
"The police should err on the side of caution and err on the side of protecting the neighborhood and not saying anything about sends the wrong message on all sorts of levels.”
"Anybody who makes a new acquaintance with someone has to be very careful of when and how they bring them home," said Chief of Detectives James Malloy, Chicago Police Dept.
"There's kind of an on-edge feeling when you go out to a restaurant or bar in the neighborhood. People are definitely talking and definitely scared as well," said Pine.
Community leaders have scheduled a meeting with investigators for today to express their concerns.
