Joseph Quinton West was 22 when he was found dead in his San Antonio apartment on April 15, 2023. A welfare check by police was requested after a friend could not reach him; officers discovered West face down on his bed with a gunshot wound to the back of his head.

Investigators linked West through the dating app Grindr to a man later identified as 22-year-old Jer Auntey Bernard Pleasant. Forensics tied Pleasant to a separate fatal shooting of 54-year-old Larry Wilson on April 14, 2023. Spent 9mm shell casings from both scenes were matched, and Pleasant’s fingerprints were found on condom wrappers at each location. Witnesses also reported seeing a man matching Pleasant’s description fleeing after Wilson’s shooting. Pleasant was arrested in possession of a handgun matching the caliber used and was charged with two counts of murder, held on a combined bond of $700,000.

Local LGBTQ+ groups responded by urging greater caution when meeting people from dating apps, recommending public meeting places and sharing plans with friends or family. Does anyone have information about Joseph’s last known contacts or the circumstances of his Grindr meetings?