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Reward Pot Grows for Tear Gas Thrower's Identity

San Diego Police Seeking Help Finding Culprit/s

Pride Spectators & Children in Gay Families Gassed

By Rex Wockner

San Diego -- Police want to see amateur videos and photos of the July 24 gay-pride parade in hopes of catching a glimpse of the person who tear-gassed the gay-families contingent and hundreds of spectators.

Meanwhile, activist Nicole Murray Ramirez' reward pot has grown to $16,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the attacker, and Mayor Susan Golding has issued an appeal for help in finding the criminal.

San Diego Pride tear gas victims Guido Gaietta and Peter Rauber

San Diego Police Western Division Detective Sgt. Robert Nunley said five or six video tapes have been turned over to the police but none was helpful.

"We've got a couple of people going through the evidence full- time," Nunley said. "Everybody we've got so far has had video and pictures from the east pointing west. We're looking for somebody that was pointing the other direction, but we're looking at everything they give us.

"How we solve a lot of this stuff as time passes is the reward [money]," Nunley added. "The guy finally can't keep the secret anymore and he says, 'You know, I did that.' And it could be a month down the road. He could brag to somebody."

Nunley said the incident took place at 12:50 p.m. on the north side of University Avenue near 10th Avenue. Someone detonated a Coke-can-sized, military-issue tear-gas canister, rolled it up against the mailboxes business on that corner, then fled westbound on foot, he said.

As smoke engulfed the city's gayest block, panic ensued.

Nicole Murray Ramierz was the emcee of the San Diego Pride event
Photo: Rex Wockner

"All of a sudden I see these hundreds of people screaming and running past the reviewing stand," said Murray Ramirez, who was emceeing the event. "It was like a Godzilla-is-coming stampede from the movies.

"One minute the street was packed with thousands of people and then ... it was deserted."

Hardest-hit was the Family Matters contingent, which consisted of gay parents and their children, including toddlers and babies.

"There were all these little kids in strollers crying with this gas in their eyes," said Murray Ramirez.

Spectator Guido Gaietta said it was pandemonium.

"People were screaming, 'Run, run, run' and 'Get away, get away, get away,' so obviously, I started running because all these people are running toward me," he said. "Then all of a sudden there were tears in my eyes, and it got in my throat. It was pretty nasty. We ran for a couple of blocks to escape it and our faces were all red. Some people were vomiting in the street."

"A lot of people got hit pretty bad," said spectator Peter Rauber. "We had to walk about two blocks south of University Avenue to be outside of the area. There were hundreds of people walking down there and then washing their faces with garden hoses."

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C. Ray Drew, head of the national Family Pride Coalition and a marcher in the Family Matters contingent, called the gassing "a terrorist act."

"Mentally disturbed people feed off the hate-filled rhetoric of the radical right," he said. "It emboldens the violent, disturbed person with a sense of legitimacy. We as a nation must recognize the profound harm to children and families caused by the radical right and hold them accountable for their hate."

Pride Executive Director Mandy Schultz called the incident "a huge eye-opener."

"It just goes to show how much hate there is out in the world," she said. "But our community didn't run away in fear. We came back and were able to continue the parade and celebrate and be a strong, united front. It was a horrible and unfortunate moment and yet it was beautifully gratifying to see that we could all stand together."

Mayor Susan Golding has called for help in finding the bomber.

"This act of violence and hate must not be tolerated in this city," she said in a written statement. "If you or someone you know have any information on the criminals that planned or carried out this act of violence, please call 235.TIPS. Some of the people effected (sic) by the tear gas were children and families. There were 3 people taken to the hospital with hundreds more effected (sic) in the surrounding area. Hate crimes cannot be tolerated by a civilized society. The leaders of this City will not allow such ignorance and violence to go unpunished. And I am asking for your help."

To contact police with information on the attack, phone (619) 235-8477. To contribute to the reward fund, phone Murray Ramirez at (619) 692-1967. The fund is being administered by attorney and City Commissioner Rick Kerman, Murray Ramirez said.