Law enforcement authorities are still searching for a man who allegedly flashed a gun inside a popular West Hollywood gay bar last Thursday.
Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to The Abbey Food & Bar shortly after midnight after receiving reports that a person had a firearm in the bar.
The suspect had been spotted by one of the bar’s security guards as he attempted to hand the gun off to another patron. The suspect did not make any threats toward any other people inside The Abbey.
The club was evacuated as deputies searched for the suspect, but were unable to locate him. Deputies say they believe the suspect left the bar about five minutes before deputies arrived on scene, reports CBS News.
Police also warned nearby businesses in order to warn them to be on the lookout for the suspect, but no sightings were reported.
“We contacted multiple businesses around the area to give them a heads up, to let them know who we were looking for,” Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Joana Warren said.
Police later viewed surveillance footage from inside the bar, and claim they saw a person flashing what appeared to be a firearm. No arrests have been made in the case, nor has a description of the suspect been released, but the investigation remains ongoing, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The incident drew a strong response from local law enforcement agencies, with units from the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills Police Departments arriving on scene to assist the sheriff’s deputies. The incident also put many community members on high alert, coming just weeks after a mass shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs.
“It kind of just feels like it could happen to any of us at any moment,” Abbey patron Erika Repsch told CBS News. “I don’t live in fear, but I’m definitely nervous when going out. I’m hoping that the Abbey is doing everything they can to protect everyone, and it sounds like with what happened last night they are. They do have a heightened sense of security.”
In the wake of the Colorado Springs shooting, some LGBTQ people have questioned whether gay clubs should hire more security to do pat downs of customers to check for weapons or install metal detectors to ensure similar incidents don’t happen elsewhere. But others say increasing security measures — especially if armed security guards are involved — may drive away patrons who are distrustful of police or have had negative experiences with law enforcement.
“We don’t want to have security guys at the door with guns,” said patron Robert Nelson. “It’s supposed to be all are welcome. All are coming in, having a good time.”
Sacramento, California, has been designated a "sanctuary city" for transgender individuals.
Last week, the Sacramento City Council approved a resolution ensuring that city resources -- including law enforcement resources -- are not used to aid in out-of-state prosecutions of people who come to California seeking out gender-affirming mental health care, hormone therapy, or surgery.
The resolution prohibits city funds from being used to cooperate with any individuals or out-of-state agencies who are investigating people for pursuing treatments that are legal in California.
Congressman Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) was named to Politico's list of "The 10 Thirstiest Members of Congress."
The "Thirsty Awards," now in their second year, pay tribute to the "most shamelessly media-seeking members of Congress."
"This is Washington, after all, and it’s Washington in the Donald Trump and social media age," Politico writes in its current issue. "Building seniority, developing relationships and forging cross-aisle consensus for incremental gains is out. None of that is going to get you a viral link or an invitation to appear on primetime cable television.
Organizers of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival were outraged after a billboard advertising free STD testing was erected along the freeway in Indio, California, just 15 minutes from the concert site.
"Catch more than vibes?" the billboard reads.
Beneath the words is a bubble advertising the website freestdcheck.org and a photo of the Empire Polo Club, site of Coachella festival, which takes place annually over two separate weekends, with the first three days of musical acts starting on April 12. The festival is expected to draw about 125,000 revelers.
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!