San Diego lesbian bar targeted by arsonist
Gossip Grill, a queer women’s bar in San Diego, was targeted by an arsonist at about 12:30 a.m. Friday, Oct.
20, according to a post on social media. By about 1:45 that afternoon, according to NBC 7, police had a suspect in custody. NBC 7 reports that police found the suspect, 38-year-old Ryan Habrel, near the scene Friday afternoon and arrested him on charges of arson to a commercial structure and the use of an accelerant.
Police said the investigation is ongoing but that there is no indication so far that the fire was a hate crime. A social media post by owner Moe Girton indicated that someone had set “both front patios” on fire at the bar, but the NBC 7 reports said San Diego firefighters “arrived and found an awning in the back of the bar on fire and knocked it down by 12:39 a.m. “Everyone is OK and damage was contained to the front patios.
We do have cameras and are working with [San Diego PD] to find out who lit our Queer Home on fire,” Girton’s social media post continued. “Gossip Grill is one of the last remaining Queer Women’s bars in the country.
