BY BTL STAFF
PENNSYLVANIA – The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) has recently learned of the hook-up related homicide of a man from Norristown, Pennsylvania.
After answering a Craigslist ad for men seeking men, 36-year-old Manuel Hakimian was robbed, tied up and then killed by a local man who placed the ad. His body was found Sept. 21 by relatives.
According to local media reports, the killer, Chad Marshall, was caught after using Hakimain's credit cards in multiple places across multiple states and was finally arrested in North Carolina where he has been arraigned on charges of first-degree murder, robbery and related offenses.
This marks the 6th hook-up homicide that the NCAVP has recorded in the past year. And the third in Pennsylvania alone.
"Stigma often prevents us from talking about hook-up related violence, that's why at NCAVP we are working hard to raise awareness about this critical issue in our communities," Osman Ahmed, NCAVP research and education coordinator at the New York City Anti-Violence Project wrote in a recent press release. "Far too often we see LGBTQ people targeted for robbery and violence via online dating and hook-up platforms. It is imperative that more resources and programs are made available that seek to prevent such violence and promote safety online."
The NCAVP is a resource for anyone who experiences violence. For more information and to locate an anti-violence program in the area visit NCAVP online or Email them at [email protected].