Daniel McGee, 26, of Springfield, Oregon, was sentenced to 151 months, or just over 12 and a half years, in federal prison after pleading guilty to a federal hate crime charge for attempting to kill a man he met through the LGBTQ dating app Grindr.
After serving his sentence, McGee will be required to complete five years of supervised release. He also must pay a $100 assessment and $943.95 in restitution to a criminal injury compensation account, according to court documents.
McGee first met the victim through the Grindr app on July 5, 2021, where he used the screen name “str8curious” and tried to arrange to meet him in person. In a message on the app, Maggie claimed She said she just turned 18 and wasn’t ready to kiss yet, but wanted to make sure they were alone.
However, when McGee arrived at the victim’s apartment, he struck the man in the head with a small wooden stick known as a tire thumper. Police said Magee also tried to gouge the victim’s eyes out with his hands during the assault. A neighbor who heard a commotion inside the apartment called emergency services and reported hearing someone screaming for help.
When police arrived on scene, they found two men inside the victim’s apartment, who had sustained multiple life-threatening injuries. He had several lacerations on the back and side of his head, and most of his scalp was missing. The victim was transported to a local hospital.
According to court documents, McGee told detectives that he met the victim in Grindr and went into the man’s apartment believing “the devil would be there.” He also said he intended to “kill” and “eliminate” the victims.
The Oregon U.S. Attorney’s Office said investigators found evidence that McGee had been planning the assault for several weeks. That evidence included searching online for graphic anti-gay material and videos of anti-gay assaults, purchasing the tire thumper used in the assault, and researching ways to get away with murder and dispose of bodies.
McGee’s father stated in a sworn statement that his son was autistic, according to the newspaper. USA Today.
On November 18, 2021, a grand jury in Eugene, Oregon returned a one-count indictment charging McGee with a hate crime with attempted murder for targeting victims because of their sexual orientation. McGee subsequently pleaded guilty in federal court on November 25, 2025, and was sentenced on March 3, 2026.
“The right to live safely in one’s community is a fundamental civil right,” Scott Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, said at the Justice Department. news release“Oregon remains committed to combating hate crimes and protecting the rights of all people. While we cannot undo the harm caused by the conviction, we hope this sentence brings some measure of justice to the victims and our community.”
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
