Gay Today: World

5 in Riverside, California Gang
Charged with Hate-Murder

Compiled By GayToday

Riverside, California-Charges have been filed against 5 Riverside gang members in the stabbing death of Jeffery Owens, a gay male who was murdered in the presence of his partner and others as they exited into the rear parking lot of The Menagerie, a gay bar here.

Riverside's Police Chief, Russ Leach, said "The only motive for this attack was hatred."

All of the suspects may be charged with murder under California law, even though only one of them appears to have been directly responsible for his death. If convicted on all charges, the men are facing between 40 years and life in prison.

For stabbing and wounding Michael Bussee, the guilty man will be also charged separately with attempted murder. Owens' death, says the Riverside Press-Enterprise "spurred outrage in the city and beyond."

Hundreds of Riverside's citizens attended a candlelight vigil in remembrance of Owens. According to the Press-Enterprise, the Human Relations Commission also organized emergency meetings, and "a memorial with flowers, candles and messages was erected in the parking lot where he was attacked."

Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:
Jeffrey Owens Dead--Stabbed in Front of a Riverside Gasy Bar

GayToday's Hate Crime Series

Related Sites:
Anti-Violence Project

GayToday does not endorse related sites.

Owens, a Moreno Valley man, had worked for the Inland AIDS Project He was stabbed to death while looking at recent photographs of a Joshua Tree trip.

At their arraignment the men charged with his murder-aged 18-t0 28-claimed to be not guilty.