The windows of a local gay bar were broken in the wee hours of Wednesday morning in an incident that the Milk District Main Street has labeled a “hate crime.”
An individual was caught on security cameras in front of The District Dive (Facebook) between the hours of 3:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. The video, which you can watch below, clearly shows a hooded individual walking past the windows, which shatter just a few seconds later, while they are off-camera. Orlando Police were informed of the incident at 9:07 a.m.
The District Dive is part of the larger Southern Nights Complex, which houses Southern Craft and Southern Nights, all of which are well-known LGBTQIA+ venues. Despite the broken windows, all of the venues will be operating under normal hours today and through the weekend.
Orlando Police is investigating the incident and when asked if they were investigating it as a hate crime, they responded, “We are in the beginning of this investigation. The investigation will determine the facts of this case and attempt to identify the motive for this crime.”
If you or someone you know saw this person or recognize them, you can call 321-235-5300 or contact Crimeline anonymously at 1-800-423-TIPS.
