Gay Men May Be Targets
from the Times Picayune, June 18, 1998, by Walt Philbin
New Orleans police said Wednesday that two suspects wanted in the murder of French Quarter musician Johnnie Bachemin and another man might be targeting gay men and warned residents to be alert.
Police said that, while at least one of their alleged victims was not gay, Gary "Duck" Harrall, 21, and Travis "Sugar" Johnson, 18, are approaching people in gay bars who appear to have money. Detectives base their warning on information received from others arrested in the killings.
"We're asking members of the gay community to alert as many people as possible nationwide, using the Internet and any other network, to be on the lookout for these people," Detective Dwight Deal said.
Bachemin, 74, was found beaten and stabbed to death in his Pauger St. apartment June 10.
Police think Harrall and Johnson also are responsible for the death of Houma nightclub owner Chris Moon, 47. Moon was found beaten and stabbed to death at his home May 31.
Friday, the day after warrants were issued for their arrests, Harrall and Johnson were at a home on Chartres St. in Faubourg Marigny. Chuck Gonzalez said he didn't know the two were wanted and that they had lived with him off and on since April, when Harrall was released from prison.
Gonzalez said he called police when he saw television reports about the warrants.
Gonzalez, who is a day manager at the Roundup bar [in the French Quarter], said he and Harrall were pen pals when Harrall was serving time for attempted armed robbery.
Harrall and Johnson have hung out since May at the Roundup, police said.
