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Shooter gets 4 life terms
July 24, 2001
A defense expert said Ronald Gay suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder from Vietnam, psychosis and a heavy dependence on alcohol.

Gay pleads guilty in cafe shootings'
May 11, 2001
In the process, he gave the court a glimpse into the thinking that led to the death of Danny Lee Overstreet and the wounding of six others.

Ronald Gay describes himself as 'Christian soldier'
March 3, 2001
He goes on trial in May for the Backstreet Cafe shootings.

Backstreet survivor marches on
Dec. 25, 2000
The most critically injured of the cafe survivors, Page Webb looks at her recovery with optimism and determination.

200 unite to offer support, money
Dec. 25, 2000
Nothing can kill our spirit. Roanoke is still a great place to be," said the Rev. Catherine Houchins.

Backstreet Cafe greets patrons again
Oct. 3, 2000
Some people who were at the bar the night of the shooting were back, determined not to let the incident make them afraid.

Grand jury indicts suspect in bar shootings
Oct. 3, 2000
Police have said Ronald Edward Gay confessed to the shootings, which might have been sparked by his distress about connotations associated with his last name.

Untangling the twisted past of Ronald Gay
Oct. 2, 2000
An incident in Vietnam may have been the first in a long line of events that led to his undoing.

"I saw the fire come out of the gun, I heard the bam . . . I knew I'd be next"
Oct. 1, 2000
It was a normal night at the Backstreet Cafe until the stranger in the black trench coat walked in. In a matter of minutes, everything started to go very wrong.

Roanoke after the shootings
Oct. 1, 2000
Overstreet's death nine days ago has brought the greatest surge of gay courage and heterosexual empathy the region has ever seen.

Anti-gay violence frequent across the nation, activists say
Sept. 30, 2000
Murders and harassment occurred in West Virginia, Ohio, California and Massachusetts.

Backstreet Cafe a place for crying, hope and light
Sept. 30, 2000
The candles, flowers and posters compel many people to slow if they're driving by or stop if they're walking.

Speakers encourage expansion of hate crime law
Sept. 29, 2000
John Goodhart Sr. of Rocky Mount, Overstreet's co-worker at Verizon, will be the guest speaker today at a vigil in Washington, D.C.

Marchers pierce the darkness
Sept. 29, 2000
Hundreds follow same route taken by Ronald Gay through Roanoke.

Death mourned here and across the nation
Sept. 28, 2000
John Goodhart Sr. of Rocky Mount, Overstreet's co-worker at Verizon, will be the guest speaker today at a vigil in Washington, D.C.

Pastor who planned protest is a no-show
Sept. 28, 2000
In a telephone interview, Shirley Phelps-Roper said she advised her father not to make the trip.

Mourners celebrate life
Sept. 28, 2000
An overflow crowd of about 800 cried, laughed and bonded at the funeral service for a man many of them never knew.

Danny Overstreet's funeral
Sept. 27, 2000

Task force readies to face anti-gay activist
Sept. 27, 2000
Pledges of money to help victims will be sought for every 5 minutes he protests.

Anti-gay minister says he’ll protest at Overstreet funeral
Sept. 26, 2000
Police plan to do whatever they can to accommodate the gay community this week, said a spokeswoman.

Activists ask lawmakers to expand hate-crime laws to protect gays
Sept. 26, 2000
Some officials oppose hate-crime laws, saying all crimes should be punished regardless of who the victim is.

Co-workers stunned, friends in disbelief at man's death; others hope for lesson learned
Sept. 26, 2000
A professor at Virginia Western Community College said the shootings prove Roanoke is not immune to violence.

Victim describes shooter stepping over him
Sept. 26, 2000
John Collins, who played dead in the bar after being shot in the stomach, felt the shooter’s long coat rake across his shoulder.

Gay had been ordered to surrender guns
Sept. 26, 2000
National activist groups call Roanoke’s shooting one of the worst anti-gay attacks in U.S. history.

Suspect's family looks for a reason
Sept. 25, 2000
When Ronald Gay told someone he was going to go kill gays, it was a cry for help, his brother says.

Church fills with mourners
Sept. 25, 2000
"I don't care if you're straight or not, this injustice is intolerable," one woman said.

City's gay community turns out to mourn
Sept. 24, 2000
A national gay activist said it was one of the worst episodes of anti-gay violence in recent years.

Victim's family remembers man's joy
Sept. 24, 2000
Shooting victim Danny Overstreet was outgoing, but not political.

Did torment over name push man to killing?
Sept. 24, 2000
"I think he believed he was the justice, prosecutor and executioner," a friend said.

Police: Gunman hunted gays
Sept. 24, 2000
Ronald Edward Gay is charged with first-degree murder in multiple shootings at a Roanoke bar.

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