Indianapolis Gay Bar Possible Target of Drive-By Shooting

Police are investigating a blown-out window at an Indianapolis gay bar as vandalism, though the owner says the bar was the target of a hate crime, The Indianapolis Star reports.

Around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, a large picture window shattered at Gregs, a gay bar in downtown Indianapolis. Police characterized the incident as “vandalism” with no suspects or witnesses. They say “possible gunfire” is to blame, though no bullet was found. No one was injured.

“It was obviously a bullet,” Phil Denton, the manager working at the time, told the Star. “We’ve had rocks thrown at us, and names shouted at us, but never before a bullet.” Denton said he and bar patrons believed a shot was fired from an eastbound car.

Denton added that gay bars have traditionally kept their windows covered to protect patrons’ privacy and as a safety precaution, but that Gregs and other local gay bars had uncovered their windows in recent years.

“The times being what they are, and the acceptance coming around, we decided it was time,” Denton said.