A 17-Year-Old Was Just Arrested for the Murder of a Detroit Gay Man. What a Local Advocacy Group Suggests for Safer App Meetups.
Authorities weighing hate crime charges in death of Howard Brisendine
A 17-year-old from Michigan has been charged with murder in the fatal stabbing of a gay Detroit man, a crime that authorities suggest may have been driven by hatred based on the victim’s sexual orientation. The accused, Ahmed Al-Alikhan, is facing charges of first-degree murder, felony murder and unlawful driving away of an automobile following the death of a 64-year-old out gay man, Howard Brisendine.
According to the Detroit Police Department, Al-Alikhan met Brisendine on a dating app, allegedly targeting him because he was gay. Authorities say that on Sept. 24, Al-Alikhan visited Brisendine’s home, stabbed him multiple times, and then fled in Brisendine’s car. Al-Alikhan was arrested on Oct. 1 in Dearborn and turned over to Detroit authorities.
The apparently targeted nature of the crime has prompted Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy to charge Al-Alikhan as an adult. Worthy noted that Al-Alikhan is only a few weeks shy of his 18th birthday and that the alleged facts of the case warrant the adult charge. “It is hard to fathom a more planned series of events in this case,” Worthy said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the set of alleged facts are far too common in the LGBTQ+ community. We will bring justice to Mr. Brisendine.”
The brutal murder has shaken Detroit’s LGBTQ+ community, especially in light of rising hate crime statistics across the country. FBI statistics from 2022 reveal a 19% increase in anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes compared to the previous year, reflecting a troubling national trend.
The Fair Michigan Justice Project (FMJP), which aids Michigan law enforcement and prosecutors in solving serious crimes against the LGBTQ+ community, is actively involved in this case. FMJP Director of Outreach and Advocacy Julisa Abad encourages dating app users to stay safe. “Let people know where you’re going,” she tells Pride Source. “This can be as simple as sharing the names they gave you or sharing a screenshot of a screen name, just so that we have a starting point should something happen. You can also share your location with somebody so there are timestamps showing when you arrived and left.”
Abad says that before meeting up, it’s a good idea to drive by the location first to become more familiar with the neighborhood. She also advises people to avoid parking in driveways — instead, park in the street if you can, facing the direction that you’ll take to leave later. Most of all, Abad says, “Trust your gut feeling if something doesn’t feel right. Go with your intuition.”
Brisendine, a longtime resident of Detroit, was a well-known figure in the local LGBTQ+ scene. He worked as a doorman at Gigi’s, a popular gay nightclub in the city, where he was known for his warm personality and welcoming demeanor. As other outlets have reported, Brisdendine was placed on the sex offender registry for an offense committed in 1996 — police have not indicated a connection between his record and the attack.
Luis Mandujano, the owner of Gigi’s and Brisendine’s friend and neighbor, discovered his body on Sept. 29 after Brisendine failed to show up for work. Mandujano went to Brisendine’s house, noticed his car was missing and, upon entering, found him dead from multiple stab wounds.
“After Howard missed a shift, we became concerned because that just wasn’t like him,” Mandujano told Pride Source. “I’d noticed his car was missing a few days earlier, but didn’t think too much of it, but after he missed two shifts, we decided to go over and check on the house. I went over with another Gigi’s employee and the front door wasn’t completely latched, so we were able to push it open.” Mandujano discovered Brisendine’s body and a “whole lot of blood.” The coworker immediately called the police, who confirmed Brisendine’s death and began their investigation.
Brisendine’s brother, Harvey Brisendine, told WDIV that he was only able to identify his brother’s body by a tattoo on his arm, as his face was unrecognizable from the attack. Harvey believes his brother was killed because of his sexual orientation, stating unequivocally that he thinks the crime was a hate crime.
“Howard was targeted for being gay,” Harvey said to WDIV, “and I want people to understand the deep pain this has caused our family.”
Mandujano says the Gigi’s family is reeling from the loss, as well. “Gigi’s is family,” he said. “We are friends and coworkers, really just one big family. And Howard was this warm, talkative guy with a big laugh who everyone knew and liked. It’s a big loss. For now we’re going to keep moving forward as a community, as a business and a family.”
While Al-Alikhan has not been formally charged with a hate crime, Maria Miller, an assistant prosecuting attorney for the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, said in an email that investigators are continuing to review the evidence. Detroit Police Sgt. Rebecca McKay also told WDIV that the investigation is “heading in that direction,” and there are indications that this crime may have been motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment.
Al-Alikhan’s legal representation remains unclear, and Detroit police have not commented further on the case. Pride Source has reached out to several departments.
In the wake of Brisendine’s death, Mandujano has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral costs and Brisendine’s remaining bills. The fundraiser, which has garnered significant community support, will also donate any leftover funds to local LGBTQ+ organizations working to combat hate crimes.
“Howard was a kind, talkative man who greeted everyone with a warm laugh and a kind word,” Mandujano said in an email to supporters. “We don’t want to take advantage of people’s generosity, but we want them to know that Howard was the victim of a brutal murder simply because of who he was. He didn’t deserve this.”
Read More
Attend Community Events for Transgender Day of Visibility
Get set to commemorate International Transgender Day of Visibility, founded by Michigander Rachel Crandall Crocker. On March 28, Five15 in Royal Oak will [...]
Michigan House Republicans Introduce Bill to Halt Gender-Affirming Surgeries and Care for Minors
More than a dozen Republican lawmakers in Michigan have signed onto a bill to bar physicians from performing gender-affirming care for transitioning minor [...]
These 8 Michigan Democrats Face Backlash After Supporting Anti-Transgender Sports Resolution
A controversial resolution urging restrictions on transgender student athletes in Michigan has sparked outrage among LGBTQ+ advocacy groups in the state — [...]
Out Gay Rep. Jason Morgan Aims to Repeal Outdated Michigan Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Amid Supreme Court Concerns
One week after one of his House colleagues introduced a resolution calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider its landmark ruling ending bans on [...]
Recovering Forgotten Trans History: Storyteller S. Bear Bergman Brings ‘The First Jew in Canada’ to Ann Arbor Church
S. Bear Bergman has been a self-described "queer pain in the ass" since adolescence, when he helped found the first gay-straight alliance in the country in 1990 [...]
Hundreds Gather In Lansing to Protest Trump Actions Against Reproductive Rights and Trans Women
Several hundred people gathered Saturday outside the Michigan Capitol in Lansing as they protested a myriad of actions and policies by the Trump administration, [...]
