Washington, D.C., police arrested a Maryland man on Sunday, May 24, at approximately 4:20 p.m., after he allegedly threatened to shoot an employee at Ben’s Next Door restaurant and bar, located at 1211 U Street, N.W., while using a gay slur.
According to a statement released by police and a police incident report, the man arrested was Delonte Fraley, 32, of Acookekeek, Maryland, who threatened the bartender after the bartender told him not to serve alcohol.
“The suspect overheard the employee, threatened to shoot him, and made homophobic slurs toward the employee,” police said in a statement. “When the employee left the restaurant that day, the suspect was standing near the employee’s vehicle,” the report states.
“The employee returned to the restaurant and called police,” the statement continues. “The suspect was arrested by responding officers,” it reads.
The arresting officer charged Fraley with felony intimidation (hate/bias), according to a police statement.
Prosecutors from the Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney’s Office, which prosecutes criminal cases in Washington, D.C., escalated the charges to threats to harm or kidnap, a bias-related hate crime, according to records in the D.C. Superior Court.
The incident occurred over Memorial Day weekend, when thousands of visitors and D.C.-area LGBTQ advocates and supporters were attending DC Black Pride events across the city, including a Black Pride party hosted by the LGBTQ bar in the Yew Street Entertainment District near Ben’s Next Door.
Among the nearby LGBTQ bars hosting DC Black Pride events were Nellie’s Sports Bar and hurst Lounge. Ben’s Next Door is located next to Ben’s Chili Bowl, a popular and established restaurant on U Street.
Judge Robert R. Rigsby released Mr. Fraley on personal recognizance at a May 25 oral argument hearing, according to court records, but the details were not made public until a preliminary hearing on June 4.
The day before his arrest, Fraley allegedly yelled a gay slur at a Ben’s Next Door employee, according to a more detailed arrest affidavit filed in court by Washington, D.C., police.
“Plaintiff stated that Defendant was unable to remain at the facility because on or before May 23, 2026, Defendant had used homophobic slurs against him and his hostess, threatened Plaintiff, and called Plaintiff a fag,” the affidavit states.
Additionally, “the defendant became enraged and said, ‘I know where your Tesla is. Look at me outside faggot, I’m going to spank your ass,’ and ‘I’m going to shoot your ass.'” The affidavit states that the complainant confirmed to police that the Tesla Fraley mentioned was his car. The victim was walking to his car after work when he saw Fraley standing directly in front of his car, police said.
“Plaintiff stated that she felt unsafe while Defendant was standing in front of her vehicle because she felt Defendant could carry out such a threat,” the affidavit states. The victim then returned to the restaurant without the defendant’s knowledge and decided to call the police.
“The defendant was arrested on charges of Felony Intimidation, Hate/Bias, and transported to the Third District Station for processing,” the affidavit concludes.
It was not immediately possible to determine whether the victims identified as LGBTQ or whether any of the Ben’s Next Door patrons were involved in D.C. Black Pride.
“Founded in 2008, Ben’s Next Door is a family-owned restaurant and bar located on U Street in northwest Washington, DC,” the website says. “As a Black-owned property, it is our goal to provide a warm, welcoming, friendly, and communal atmosphere for all of our guests,” the statement said.
Source: Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News – www.washingtonblade.com
