Two weeks after a dessert shop employee confronted an anti-LGBT mob after Utah’s Pride festival, police have no leads in the case and are considering closing it.
Four gay men fled the group and sought refuge in the eatery, which doesn’t have security cameras, said Salt Lake City police spokesman Detective Greg Wilking. None of the businesses near the shop, named Doki Doki, has footage of the clash either. Without video of the mob or any other tips, the case has gone cold.
Police have been investigating since the mob chased the men to the shop at 249 E. 400 South after the Pride Festival on June 2, just as the store was about to close. The men — about a dozen, all white — stood outside the shop, making threatening gestures. Police and witnesses have told The Salt Lake Tribune the crowd was yelling homophobic slurs.
Terrance Mannery, an employee at the store, stepped outside to stop the mob from entering, took a punch and began fighting back. The mob dispersed after a security guard appeared, and Mannery went back to taking orders.
If something similar happens again, Doki Doki owner Irie Cao said her shop will be ready.
She’s been speaking with a company about installing security cameras inside and outside the store. Even though there haven’t been any other physical incidents at the store, Cao said she wants to be prepared.
“This part of town is kind of dangerous sometimes, so we just want to prevent this from happening again,” Cao said, “especially when [the mob] got away.”
Mannery said he’s been suggesting the store install security cameras — because he “can’t be there 24/7” to fend off would-be attackers.
When Mannery learned police were considering closing the case, he took it in stride, saying there are other cases that have more evidence that police could be looking into.
“Hopefully, at least some of the mob changes for the better,” he said.
Anyone with information about the mob can contact Salt Lake City police at 801-799-3000.
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