Demetris Nelson, a 26-year-old man from Detroit, has been accused of using the gay dating app Grindr to find and kill gay men. Nelson is accused of killing Brian Anderson, and wounding Malcolm Drake.
Malcolm Drake is currently alive, but was critically injured in the attack.
Nelson is being charged with first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to rob while armed, and felony firearm possession. Prosecutors believe that he sought out his victims because of their sexual orientation.
The Wayne County Prosecutor, Kym Worthy, said: “The allegations are that social media contacts were used to target, contact, rob, fatally shoot one gay man and seriously wound another gay man.”
She then added her sadness at how the attacks would be perceived by others. “To some, this will be just another hateful and violent act in America,” she said.
“They will read about this case and continue to go about their day. To me, that is quite tragic.”
Alanna Maguire, from the Fair Michigan Justice Project, which aims to assist law enforcement in solving cases related to the LGBTQ community, said: “We are saddened and outraged by this despicable crime.
“This case is just the most recent example of how members of Detroit’s LGBTQ community are too often targets of violence”
Nelson is expected to appear in court on 26 July for a probable cause hearing.
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