Officials sift through Heart Rock crime scene (anti-gay arson)

[kweerwolf]

(Report on an arson fire at a Brownsville, Texas, gay bar ...)

Investigators believe the fire was an act of arson and were on the scene Monday with officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Harlingen Fire Department, the state fire marshal’s office and South Texas Arson Response Team.

They hope to have more information Wednesday about how and why the fire started, Brownsville Fire Marshal Ben Nuñez said. For safety reasons, only investigators were allowed to survey the damage inside the building Monday.

Club owner Sylvia Armente sat outside the building as investigators sifted through the ruins inside.

<snip>

Armente said Sunday that she believes her business was the victim of a hate crime aimed at the gay community. The club flew a large gay pride flag over its door and advertised “alternative lifestyle” entertainment.

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/ts_more.php?id=66282_0_10_0_C