The unidentified man found early Sunday, who was unconscious and badly beaten near the corner of Church and Duboce Streets, was publicly identified late yesterday as 31-year-old Bryan Higgins, a.k.a. Feather Lynn. Family members identified him Monday, not long after reports of him hit the local media, and the SFPD announced yesterday that his case was being investigated as an attempted murder. Now, after his family has decided they will be removing him from life support this afternoon, his case will become a homicide.
As the SF Bay Guardian reports, surveillance images from both Muni and surrounding businesses identify a suspect as a white male in either a gray sweater or a dark-colored hoodie. Details of the case remain incomplete, but the victim's husband and family say they are now "more concerned with his spirit," and have scheduled a vigil in Duboce Park this afternoon at 3:33 p.m., the exact moment when his life support will be turned off.
Higgins/Feather Lynn, who also went by DJ Dreamcatcher, was a Radical Faerie who lived in the neighborhood and worked at nearby New Rosenberg Delicatessen on Noe Street. The Guardian spoke with Higgins's husband, Brian Hagerty, yesterday outside the deli, who did not go into detail about the case but said, "Too many factors came together in this situation. But the truth is he has left us." Higgins's organs, they say, will be donated.
It's believed that Higgins was assaulted sometime early Sunday morning, with a deadly weapon, though the possible motive and circumstances remain under investigation. Only yesterday did police find evidence of possible foul play as of Monday they appeared to believe the death may have been accidental, as the Examiner reports.
Members of the faerie community known locally for the Burning Man camp and its associated off-playa gatherings dubbed Comfort & Joy have been streaming through Higgins's hospital room to pay their respects, and gathering outside the deli where he worked. As the SFBG's Marke Bieschke writes, "the shock of such a stalwart of the faerie community one dedicated to gentleness, peace, and spiritualism being beaten, possibly to death, is what's drawing attention and disbelief."
Out of respect for his friends and family who wish for the images of him on life support to stop being shared, we're replacing the image on the original post, and adding another here as well.
Police are seeking any information that may help with solving the case, so if you might have any you should call 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 with “SFPD” at the start of the message.
