Darnell Thomson is a serial assailant and gay basher, along with his friend James Decker and younger brother Ty. Darnell would beat Ty into joining him and James to find queer men on the streets to attack. When beating drag queen Chantuse Johnson, fireman Ian Duffy intervened. He punched Darnell hard enough to break his glasses and cut his cheek. Darnell was mad enough to make a finger gun motion to threaten Ian before he and the other boys fled. They were all suspected when Ian was later stabbed to death.
The trio were tracked to Central Park, beating another man. Darnell fled into the woods in a lengthy chase, but was cornered after he climbed a tree. His injuries matched the hospital records from when he was patched up, and Mrs. Thomson had Ty sell Darnell out. Darnell shamelessly admitted to the gay bashings, but denied killing Ian or having involvement. His alibi of being at home with Ty checked out.
Darnell was found guilty of assault, evading arrest, and hate crime charges and was tried as an adult and imprisoned. (CI: "Maltese Cross")