Dominick Sabater Identified as Suspect in Pride Weekend Shooting Near Stonewall Inn: Two Teen Girls Shot in Night of Violence That Stunned LGBTQ+ Community During Historic Celebration

On a night meant to embody joy, inclusion, and the resilient spirit of a long-fought civil rights movement, violence struck the heart of one of New York City’s most symbolic LGBTQ+ landmarks. Just after 10 p.m. on Sunday evening, amid the winding down of Pride Month celebrations in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, two teenage girls were shot near the historic Stonewall Inn. Authorities have identified 26-year-old Dominick Sabater—a Bronx resident and social media content creator on OnlyFans—as the suspect in a shooting that left one 16-year-old girl in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head, and another 17-year-old girl injured in the leg.

The shooting, which occurred in the area of 3 Sheridan Square, just steps from the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, has drawn an outpouring of outrage, sorrow, and condemnation from across the city. It has also cast a shadow over the jubilant close to a weekend that was otherwise filled with music, color, and messages of love, equality, and self-expression. Though the motive remains under investigation, the setting, the timing, and the victims have raised urgent questions about the rising specter of violence—both targeted and incidental—against members and allies of marginalized communities.

Initial reports suggest that the shooting was preceded by a dispute involving Sabater and an as-yet-unidentified group of individuals. What remains unclear is whether the two teen victims were involved in that altercation or simply caught in the crossfire. The ambiguity surrounding the motive has not lessened the gravity of the incident, particularly given the emotional and symbolic significance of the location where it occurred.

The Stonewall Inn, located mere feet from the site of the shooting, is not just a bar—it is a national monument and a sacred site in the LGBTQ+ movement. It was here, in June 1969, that patrons resisted a police raid, igniting the Stonewall Uprising and laying the foundation for the global fight for LGBTQ+ rights. That a shooting occurred in its shadow, during Pride Month no less, has struck a deep nerve across the community.

Emergency medical responders arrived swiftly. The 16-year-old girl with the head wound was immediately rushed to the hospital and remains in critical condition, her prognosis uncertain. The second victim, a 17-year-old girl with a leg injury, is reported to be in stable condition. Their identities have not been released due to their age, but they are believed to have been attending Pride events earlier in the day.

NYPD officers recovered a firearm from the scene, but as of Monday morning, no arrests had been made. Authorities, however, have formally named Dominick Sabater as the prime suspect and are actively pursuing leads regarding his whereabouts. Public appeals have been issued, urging anyone with information about Sabater or the events of that night to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers.

Mayor Eric Adams addressed the city’s grief and anger in a public statement posted to X (formerly Twitter). “Saddened to learn about the shooting by the Stonewall Inn tonight as Pride celebrations were winding down,” he wrote. “During a time when our city should be rejoicing and celebrating members of our diverse LGBTQ+ community, incidents like this are devastating.” His words echoed the sentiment of countless New Yorkers, who took to social media and the streets to express solidarity and demand answers.

Compounding the fear and anxiety around Sunday’s violence was a separate but chilling incident earlier that day in Washington Square Park, another hub for Pride events. Multiple attendees were bear-sprayed in what appeared to be an unprovoked attack. Though no one was seriously injured, the timing of both events—occurring during the height of Pride festivities in Manhattan—has intensified concerns about the safety of LGBTQ+ individuals and the communities that support them.

Law enforcement officials have not yet determined whether Sabater’s actions constitute a hate crime, but the NYPD has made clear that they are investigating all potential motives, including bias-based violence. The fact that the shooting took place during Pride weekend and in a location of profound LGBTQ+ significance has inevitably framed the investigation within the context of hate-fueled violence, even as officials await clearer evidence of intent.

Community leaders, activists, and LGBTQ+ organizations have responded with swift and firm condemnation. “This violence is horrifying—especially in a place that represents liberation and pride,” said one organizer affiliated with the Stonewall Inn. “We won’t be intimidated.” Across New York, vigils and community forums are being planned not only to honor the victims but to reaffirm a collective stance against fear, violence, and oppression.

Though Sabater’s digital presence and work as an OnlyFans content creator have drawn public attention, officials have emphasized that the investigation remains focused on the violent incident itself, not his online persona. However, his identity as a public figure on social platforms raises broader questions about visibility, accountability, and the increasingly blurred lines between internet notoriety and real-world consequences.

This incident also reopens discussions about gun violence in urban centers, particularly in contexts where youth and vulnerable communities are at risk. That two teenagers—barely old enough to vote—became the victims of a shooting in one of the most policed and historically significant parts of Manhattan underscores how quickly joy can turn into chaos, even in spaces long considered sanctuaries.

For the LGBTQ+ community, the emotional toll is palpable. Pride Month is more than a celebration—it is a political statement, a memorial, and a form of resistance. Every parade, every rally, every gathering is a testament to survival and a refusal to be erased. That this violence occurred at the culmination of such a weekend is not merely tragic—it is an affront to everything Pride stands for.

The symbolism of the attack’s location cannot be overstated. Stonewall is more than history—it is present and ongoing struggle. In targeting the area around it, this shooting has struck at the heart of a community’s identity and memory. Whether or not the victims were targeted for their sexual orientation, the community feels targeted by proximity, by implication, and by the cruel irony of violence occurring at the place where resistance was born.

And yet, as is so often the case in the face of adversity, the response has not been retreat but resolve. Community members have gathered to support one another, to care for the injured, and to demand justice—not just from the courts, but from a society that too often fails to protect its most vulnerable. “This is why we march,” said one activist at an impromptu gathering. “Because we’re still not safe. Because we still have to fight for the right to live.”

The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force remains involved in the ongoing investigation, and updates are expected in the coming days as law enforcement works to apprehend Sabater. For now, the city remains on edge—shaken but not broken, grieving but still defiant.

Anyone with information is urged to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. As the manhunt continues and the victims fight for their lives, the story of what happened near Stonewall is still unfolding. But one thing is already clear: the violence that shattered the final hours of Pride has left a wound that cannot be measured only in physical injury. It has cut to the heart of a community still fighting to be seen, to be safe, and to be free.