Three men were charged with murder and robbery on Monday in connection with a series of fatal druggings at Manhattan gay bars that killed two people and have spread fear through the city’s L.G.B.T.Q.
community. The incidents, which occurred last year, have terrorized nightlife goers as the industry rebounds from the pandemic.
They have also started a broader conversation about the use of widely available illegal drugs to incapacitate, rob and sometimes kill.
Justin Barroso, 30, and Robert DeMaio, 34, were charged with the murder of Julio Ramirez, a 25-year-old social worker. Mr. DeMaio was additionally charged with the murder of John Umberger, a 33-year-old political consultant.