Man charged with hate crime after beating gay man he targeted on Grindr, Justice Department says – USA TODAY
An Oregon man was charged with a federal hate crime Monday after law enforcement said he brutally attacked a gay man he targeted on the dating app Grindr.
Daniel Andrew McGee, 22, met the victim on the Grindr, a popular dating app in the LGBTQ community, before the two met in person on July 5, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday.
The Justice Department said McGee beat the man with a wooden club for several minutes in the victim’s apartment in Eugene, and that he attempted to kill the man by continuing to strike him in the head.
McGee told detectives he went to the man’s apartment because he believed “demons” would be there, according to an affidavit.
The investigation by the FBI and Eugene Police Department found that in the weeks leading up to the attack, McGee searched online for graphic and violent anti-gay material, including videos of anti-gay attacks. The Department of Justice also accused McGee of using the internet to plan the assault by purchasing the club online and searching for suggestions on how to get away with murder.
The FBI arrested McGee, who is from Springfield, on Monday and appeared in federal court.
McGee’s father told a Eugene detective his son lives with his parents and has autism, according to an affidavit.
In a recent similar case, a Texas man was sentenced to over 23 years in prison last month for his connection to a scheme to lure, rob and assault gay men using the app.
After the sentencing, Acting U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham for the Northern District of Texas warned that “despite our best efforts, bigots often lurk online.”
“We urge users of dating apps like Grindr to remain vigilant,” he said.
If you’ve experienced or witnessed anti-LGBTQ violence, or are concerned about someone who has, you can call the Anti-Violence Project hotline 24/7 at 212-714-1141. All calls are confidential. You can also report violence anonymously or ask for a counselor to reach out to you online.
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