A man from Springfield, Oregon, has pleaded guilty in federal court to a hate crime charge for assaulting another individual based on their sexual orientation.
Daniel Andrew McGee, 26, admitted guilt to one count of a Hate Crime Act Involving an Attempt to Kill. According to information presented in court, the incident occurred on July 5, 2021. McGee met the victim at the victim’s apartment after connecting through Grindr, a dating application primarily used by gay men. He then assaulted the victim with a wooden tire thumper over several minutes, resulting in life-threatening injuries and serious head wounds.
Court documents revealed that McGee had planned the attack for weeks beforehand. He conducted online searches for homophobic and violent anti-gay content and purchased both the weapon and additional materials through Amazon. Additionally, he sought information online about how to evade detection after committing murder.
A federal grand jury indicted McGee on November 18, 2021. The indictment charged him with a Hate Crime Act Involving an Attempt to Kill.
McGee could face up to life imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and five years of supervised release when sentenced on March 3, 2026. As part of his plea agreement, he will pay full restitution to his victim.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation with support from the Eugene Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Joseph Huynh, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon and Tenette Smith, Trial Attorney for the Civil Rights Division Criminal Section.
