This is awful.
James Whitehead, a San Antonio drag performer known as “Niki Hunter,” was attacked by three men and pistol-whipped. As a police came to Whitehead’s rescue, one of the assailants charged the officer, who fired five rounds in order to stop the man. One of the shots hit Whitehead in the chest:
On Sunday, Whitehead, who performed as Niki Hunter, and another friend were three blocks from his home on Ogden at East Park when three men attacked Whitehead. One of the assailants was pistol-whipping him on the ground when a passing police officer was flagged down.
When the gun-wielding assailant refused to drop his gun and instead advanced toward Officer William Karman, the officer repeatedly fired his gun. One of the bullets struck Whitehead, who later died from the gunshot wound to his chest. Suspect Jesse Ramon, 22, survived four gunshot wounds. [MY SA]
The three assailants were identified by police as Jesse Ramon, 22; Michael Martinez, 21; and Fernando Rodriguez, 21. Ramon survived four gunshot wounds.
The San Antonio Police department will not charge the men with a hate crime for attacking Whitehead — no slurs we used during attack.
Whitehead was wearing men’s clothing at the time of the attack.
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