Police see no evidence of hate crime in DJ’s killing; friends express concern

Dressed as Bubbles, Anthony Torres sits on his couch in San Francisco, Calif. "It hard to explain. Bubbles is just Bubbles," said Torres. Dressed as Bubbles, Anthony Torres sits on his couch in San Francisco, Calif. "It hard to explain. Bubbles is just Bubbles," said Torres. Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Police see no evidence of hate crime in DJ’s killing; friends express concern 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

As San Francisco’s queer community mourned the death of activist, artist and DJ Anthony Torres, who was best known by his gender-nonconforming alter ego, Bubbles, investigators said Monday that they do not believe his killing was hate-related.

Torres, a 44-year-old gay man who wore women’s clothing and makeup, was shot early Saturday in the Tenderloin neighborhood, where he lived, according to his attorney and friends. Authorities have not officially identified the victim of the shooting, but police said evidence gathered does not point to the victim’s identity, gender or sexual orientation being a motive.

“The preliminary information does not indicate a hate crime,” said Officer Robert Rueca, a police spokesman.

Rueca declined to release further information, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation. But witnesses told Torres’ friends that the male suspect had come out of New Century Theater, a strip club on the 800 block of Larkin Street, before chasing Torres and shooting him just before 3 a.m. at the corner of Larkin and Myrtle streets.

Hours before his death, Torres posted on Facebook that he wanted to go to strip clubs to promote a swimsuit he had designed. However, Jim Reilly, his friend and attorney, said Torres had not gone inside New Century that night.

A fixture in the Bay Area club scene who regularly performed as a DJ at house parties, civil rights marches and other events, Torres created the persona Bubbles more than two decades ago, shortly after moving to San Francisco from Phoenix. He lived near where he died, Reilly said, and would often set up a portable DJ booth and pass out snow cones on Larkin Street.

Bubbles’ signature style included over-the-top blond wigs, heavy makeup and slinky dresses as well as proudly displayed chest and facial hair. Reilly said Torres’ unapologetic pride in his identity made him a target for hate. Last year, Torres posted audio online of a San Francisco bartender refusing to serve him, allegedly because of how he looked.

Reilly said Monday that he had no doubt Torres was killed because of his identity, despite statements by police. Hate crimes are notoriously underreported and difficult to prove in court, as authorities must be able to demonstrate a suspect’s intent.

When transgender activist Mia Satya was attacked in San Francisco’s Mission District in 2011, a judge initially dismissed hate crime allegations, even though Satya said she felt the intent was clear. Two men had referred to her with a slur and told her they hated men in dresses as they assaulted her. Prosecutors refiled the hate crime charges and negotiated a plea deal in which the men admitted to attacking Satya because she was transgender.

Satya said while hate is not always explicit, almost all transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals have felt threatened at times because of their increased visibility.

“If you feel more comfortable in the middle — having a beard, makeup and long hair like Bubbles did — that very notion challenges a lot of people’s views on gender and will make you, unfortunately even in San Francisco, more subject to violence,” she said. “When I was younger, I would go to protests and meetings with a little mustache drawn on with makeup and a wig and lipstick, and I could just feel it. Even just walking down the sidewalk, I could feel the tension in the air.”

Torres’ friends said they hoped police would make an arrest soon, and would hold the suspect accountable if he was driven by hate.

Torres was “so clearly identifiable,” Reilly said. “He was so creatively and flamboyantly himself. I think the level of rage that occurred and what went down leaves no other conclusion to be drawn in my mind.”

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo