NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The NYPD identified three suspects wanted for killing two men by drugging them during robberies at Manhattan gay bars last year.
The killings were part 17 robberies that followed the same pattern of drugging and robbery.
Police are searching for Jayqwan Hamilton, 35, Robert Demaio, 34, and Jacob Barroso, 30 for the killings.
The three suspects in the killings were allegedly part of a larger robbery crew. A Manhattan Grand Jury indicted six people for the robberies last week.
Julio Ramirez, 25, was found dead in the back of a taxi after leaving the Ritz Bar and Lounge with three men on April 20.
The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner found he died from "acute intoxication by the combined effects of fentanyl, p-fluorofentanyl, heroin, cocaine, lidocaine and ethanol."
John Umberger, 33, was found dead after leaving The Q with two men a month after Ramirez’s death. Umberger overdosed on the same drug cocktail that killed Ramirez.
The OCME identified both deaths as “drug-facilitated theft,” as well as homicides.
The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is participating in the investigation, though, as of now, police believe the robbers were motivated by money, not homophobia.
The OCME is reportedly investigating several deaths with similar circumstances, but officials have not yet linked further deaths with the robbery pattern.
Police are asking anyone with information on the killings to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Anonymous tips can also be submitted on the Crime Stoppers website or on Twitter @NYPDTips.
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