Gay Morehouse Students Carjacked, Kidnapped and Called "Faggots"

The Atlanta Police Department and Fulton County Sheriff make a third and final arrest in the April carjacking, kidnapping, robbing of four Atlanta college students. All four students are gay and three attended Morehouse College.  Nineteen-year-old Darius Hill was arrested by sheriff's deputies while in court on a previous, unrelated charge. Hill faces four counts of armed robbery, four counts of kidnapping, one count of carjacking, and a felony firearm violation, reports the Atlanta Journal Constitution.  

The charges stem from the Sunday, April 25 carjacking and kidnapping. The four students were driving from church to the Morehouse campus and stopped at a gas station, reports Georgia Voice. Two victims inside the car were held at gunpoint and the two others were forced inside the trunk.

"One of the victims, who asked to not be identified, said he knew they were not targeted because they were gay. But the memory of being attacked still has him nervous. 'They used the word ‘faggot’ a lot, and said we were going to burn in hell, called us names,' said the 20-year-old man who attends American InterContinental University in Dunwoody. His three friends attend Morehouse College. The three Morehouse students declined interview requests. The four men did hold a press conference at Morehouse on April 26, but did not want their faces shown because one of the suspects was still at large."

One of the victims in the trunk still had his cell phone. He was able to call police and officers arrived at the Wachovia Bank almost as soon as the car did. Police were able to catch two of the three carjackers at that time: Seventeen-year-old Jevontay Fleetwood and a juvenile were arrested.

There was no mention of anti-gay slurs in the police report, the APD tells the GA Voice. One source tells R20 the Morehouse students initially withheld this information from police. That is not confirmed.

The 141-year-old Morehouse is one of the nation's most prestigious historically black colleges and universities (HBCU). The College has a past steeped in religion and tradition but has had always a thriving yet mostly closeted black gay subculture. Morehouse has seen several well-publicized cases of homophobia, harassment and anti-gay violence in recent years. Last fall, a staffer was fired for their part in an anti-gay chain email. Also last fall: A controversial new dress code was enacted that banned womens' attire, accessories or makeup. The code was endorsed by the campus' sole gay student group.

More on Morehouse:
Los Angeles Times Examines Homophobia at Morehouse
Morehouse Fires Employee Over Anti Gay Email Rant
Pictures From Black Gay Wedding Spurs Hateful E-Campaign
Judge Reduces Morehouse Sentence
Morehouse Bans Students From Wearing Women's Clothing

Comments

[Former HBCU Faculty]

Here's the problem. The HBCU tradition is one that is steeped in a false pride that says even though you know there are problems in house you don't air them publicly. With type of mindset it is very difficult to address any of the issues that faces Morehouse and all HBCUs in terms of sexuality and quality academic offerings. The only way these issues will be addressed is if large numbers of students and Alumni begin protesting the bogus policies and practices of University Administration.

[jacob]

The victim said his sexuality, him being gay didn't make him a target and then he said the suspects were screaming faggot at them. it doesn't make sense. If someone is calling you a faggot of course they are targeting you because your sexuality because you are gay.

The victims seem like closet cases, 1. not telling the police about the homophobic slurs 2. avoiding to show their faces on camera and give their names. sad. This was a pure and utter hate crime but i doubt the closeted victims would call it that.

[jacob]

and whats up with banning make-up and womens clothing? did it really get that out of hand, really?

[brohemian]

oh, the irony of kidnappers and carjackers telling someone else they're going to "burn in hell." effin idiots.

glad the brothas weren't hurt.

[Anti-Intellect]

I just want to wake up ONCE and not hear about gay antipathy and MOREHOUSE college which seems to go together like bread and butter. I had dreams of teaching at Morehouse one day but seeing how its a hot bed for homophobia I might just go to Georgia State instead.

[Zaidi]

Morehouse. The citadel of future black leadership. Makes you cringe.