Comments on: Tony Hunter Suspect Robert Hannah Arrested

By: Washington City Paper: The Sexist - Tony Hunter Case: What Makes a Hate Crime?

Washington City Paper: The Sexist - Tony Hunter Case: What Makes a Hate Crime? — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:23:33 +0000

[...] Wednesday, 18-year-old Robert Hanna was arrested in relation to the September death of Tony Randolph Hunter. Hanna is being charged with voluntary [...]

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:18:14 +0000

Wow!
What is so utterly repulsive is the lack of media exposure of what is obviously a hate crime. I think DC, and Chief Lanier will wage a campaign of silence as numerous members of the gay community are beaten, robbed, and murdered with impunity. Deflecting criticism has become essential to DC metro police since so many horrific crimes occur on such a frequent basis.

By: Amanda Hess

Amanda Hess — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:19:57 +0000

Jon, I have a line out to the GLLU for more info on the process. You're right, D.C. does have its own statute---The Bias-Related Crime Act of 1989 (DC Code §§ 22-4001 to 22-4004). As for MPDC---you've got me on that one. I've seen it written both ways (MPD and MPDC), but "Metropolitan Police Department" is such a generic name for a police department that maybe they just consolidated the D's to make it more pronounceable/recognizable.

By: Jon

Jon — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:04:44 +0000

Thanks for the release, Amanda.

Why is MPD waiting for the federal prosecutor to determine whether this was a sexual orientation-motivated hate crime? My understanding of the federal hate crimes statute is that it is available when the local prosecutor declines to charge as a hate crime, or when there is no hate crime statute in the local jurisdiction. Doesn't DC have its own statute that recognizes sexual orientation-motivated hate crimes?

Also how does MPDC stand for Metropolitan Police Department? Where does the C come from?

By: Amanda Hess

Amanda Hess — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:41:08 +0000

Hey Jon, I had some font issues when I first posted this! But they've since been fixed. I'll update the post right now with the full presser after the jump.

By: Jon

Jon — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:38:32 +0000

Two things...

1. This post appeared in my RSS reader in a teeny tiny font size. What gives?

2. Is the MPD press release available online for us to read in full. Or, can you post it? Thanks!

By: TJ the Girl

TJ the Girl — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:28:09 +0000

Are you freaking kidding me??? Why the hell else would they be having an altercation? Tony Hunter did not know that punk. He was just trying to go have a good time at the BeBar. What reason would that boy have to say anything to Tony besides it being something obnoxiously ignorant about him going to a gay bar?

Not a hate crime, my ass...