Man pleads guilty to gay bar shooting
From AP
11May01
02:00 (AEST) A MAN who opened fire at a bar frequented by gays, killing one patron and injuring six, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and six other charges today.
Ronald Edward Gay, 55, who told police he was upset that his last name made him the victim of jokes, faces a maximum of four life terms plus 60 years in prison for the September 22 shooting, said John McNeil, assistant Commonwealth's attorney.
Gay agreed to plead guilty to murder and six counts of malicious wounding after prosecutors offered to drop seven firearms charges, reducing the maximum penalty by about 33 years in prison, McNeil said.
Gay has condemned homosexuality and told police he was humiliated that three of his sons changed their last names.
The day before the shooting, Gay checked into a nearby hotel. According to police, he began asking where the gay bar was and telling people he wanted to shoot gay people.
Someone gave him directions to the Backstreet Cafe and called police.
Danny Lee Overstreet, 43, died at the scene.
Gay called himself a "Christian soldier working for my Lord" in a letter mailed to the Roanoke Times in March.
His only prior offences were a trespassing violation and an injunction for domestic violence, both misdemeanors.
This report appears on news.com.au.