Located at the
Hudson River, the building was constructed around 1848. The Ramrod was opened in 1960, originally as the Sea Shell Tavern, a
seamen-oriented bar. The establishment operated under both names between 1973 and 1975. The
New York Times headline for the story of the shooting was entitled "West Street Massacre." A
minister's son, Crumpley justified his murders based on his religious beliefs, believing that gay men were instruments of the
Devil and were "trying to steal my soul just by looking at me." He was found
not guilty by reason of insanity and put in a
mental facility. In 2001, he had a competency hearing, claiming he was now sane, but displayed homophobia during the court proceedings. Crumpley remained incarcerated in mental institutions, dying in April 2015 at the age of 73. ==Other Ramrod bars==