The Chicago queer community has raised more than $40k for the husband of a gay man who was fatally shot by his spouse’s former partner. The incident took place after years of alleged stalking and harassment. A GoFundMe campaign was created to support Cam Prather, the husband of 37-year-old Nicholas “Pup Tugger” Calzaretta, whose killing has shaken Chicago’s leather and pup communities.
According to prosecutors, Calzaretta was walking his dog in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood shortly before 7:20 a.m. on May 14 when 53-year-old Ammar Houssamo approached him. Witnesses told investigators Calzaretta yelled “leave me alone” and tried to run before he was shot multiple times. Authorities allege Houssamo then turned the gun on himself but survived. He has since been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon.
Court records cited by the Chicago Sun-Times show Calzaretta had previously sought a protective order against Houssamo in 2023 during divorce proceedings. The filings accused Houssamo of repeated harassment through social media, dating apps, and Calzaretta’s workplace. Calzaretta was widely known as “Pup Tugger” and was a founding member of the group Windy City Pups & Handlers. Organizers of the fundraiser described Calzaretta as “a truly remarkable person whose kindness, generosity, and gentle spirit touched everyone who knew him.”
