It is an unfortunate reality that it is nearly impossible to truly know someone, especially someone who was met online, which is why it’s very important that you be careful when meeting up with someone in person after only talking to them online. For Brian Anderson and Malcolm Drake, what was supposed to be a normal encounter turned into a nightmare as both were shot by Demetris Nelson, whom they met on Grindr, according to The Advocate.
Malcolm Drake is thankfully still alive but was critically wounded, but Brian Anderson was killed during what the police are calling a robbery attempt. Nelson has been charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, assault, and using a firearm during a felony, and assorted gun charges. The fact that he is smiling in his mugshot is very telling and also very frightening. It makes me believe that his intent was to kill the two men because they’re gay instead of simply robbing them.
The president of the Fair Michigan Justice Project, a group dedicated to investigating crimes against LGBTQ, Alanna Maguire, 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 will appear on July 26th for a probable cause hearing, according to CNN. I can’t imagine a situation in which he had a viable cause to shoot two innocent people, killing one and critically injuring the other. I strongly believe this was an act of homophobia using deceptive means.
It just goes to show that you can’t really know someone completely. Please be careful when meeting up with someone online.
Source: The Advocate