On a tragic evening in New York, New York, Vernon John Kroening, a 32-year-old male, was killed in a violent attack on November 19, 1980. The incident unfolded at a gay bar in Greenwich Village, where Kroening and other patrons were targeted in a shooting spree. The individual responsible for the unprovoked assault was identified as Ronald K. Crumpley, a former transit police officer.
The night of the shooting, Crumpley began his rampage outside a delicatessen before moving on to the
Ramrod, a popular gay bar. Armed with an Uzi submachine gun, he opened fire on the individuals at the establishment. Vernon John Kroening was tragically killed during the initial volley of gunfire. Another man, Jorg Wenz, who was working as the doorman, was also fatally wounded and succumbed to his injuries. Several other patrons were wounded in the attack, which created a scene of chaos and terror.
Following the shooting at the Ramrod, Crumpley continued his violent spree in the surrounding area, injuring more people before he was apprehended by police. The motivation behind his deadly actions was determined to be a deep-seated hatred of homosexuals. Crumpley, at the time of the incident, was a married father and the son of a minister. He expressed a delusional belief that gay men were demonic entities attempting to steal his soul.
In the legal proceedings that followed, Ronald K. Crumpley was charged with murder and attempted murder. However, the court found him not guilty by reason of insanity. This verdict was based on a determination that his actions were the result of a psychosis likely exacerbated by years of drug abuse. Consequently, Crumpley was committed to a secure psychiatric facility. He remained institutionalized for the remainder of his life and died in custody in April 2015 at the age of 73.
