VIDEO: No Arrests After Fatal Anti-Gay Beating of Iowa Teen

Detectives in Waterloo, Iowa have few leads and have made no arrests after the fatal beating of 19-year-old Marcellus Richard Andrews on Friday. The brutal beating by several youths started after they "taunted" him and called him gay slurs, reports KGAN, KCRG and the WCF Courier.

[Nakita Wright] said the problems started at about 12:45 a.m. Friday when she and Tudia Simpson, her cousin, went for a walk down the street. Andrews opted to stay behind, waiting on the enclosed porch, she said. The two women hadn't made it as far as Adams Street a block away when they heard yelling back at the house. They ran back and found a truck stopped in the street, and the occupants were taunting Andrews, calling him "faggot" and "Mercedes," a feminization of his first name, Simpson said.

The arguing and name calling continued, said Simpson, who admitted throwing the first punch, striking a girl. "She kept saying it, and I hit her," Simpson said. ...

After the brawl ended, she tried helping Andrews to his feet. He appeared dazed. She grabbed one arm and coaxed him as she lifted. He pushed up with his other arm, but then gave up.

Andrews had "severe head injuries" and was airlifted to University of Iowa Hospitals. He remained on life support until Sunday afternoon.

Waterloo police are investigating a hate crime motive but say the victim "already had a history with his attackers and [was] involved in a fight months before," reports KGAN.

Marcellas Andrews previously studied at cosmetology school. He was slated to start the interior design program at Hawkeye Community College on Monday and "bought his college textbooks" last week.

A Facebook memorial has been established.

Another promising life is lost too early to violence and hate. Sad, sad, sad. Watch KCRG's report AFTER THE JUMP ...

Comments

[Osiris]

Sorry to hear about this. Rip, kid.

[Kevin P.]

Where's the outrage from the general LGBT and Black communities to speak out against this atrocity? Maybe if he were Straight and a regular church goer, there would be....

[Jamel Smith]

Horrible, horrible, and horrible.

This is why I consider myself a gay rights and human rights activist.

[Greg]

Damn these bastards! This is just awful. Flies in the face of us being such a progressive society. I bet none of those who beat this dude could count to ten on their fingers. Just awful!

[Brien]

@Kevin Perez, when was the last time you took to the streets for any cause? Always damning black folks. Show us your other face, not the angry against black folks face!
In light of there being a history of confrontation with Marcellus and his attackers, I'm hoping there are quick arrests.
So young, so promising!

[Derrick from Philly]

Very heart-breaking. This young man was about to begin college.

The thing that strikes me about Mr Andrews' killers is their feminization of his first name from Marcellus to "Mercedes". It's usually not a name that Straight guys would use to insult a Gay guy. (Then again, I'm not familiar with Iowa.) But it makes me believe that there were some closeted or "down low" guys involved in his killing. I usually don't comment on that angle of the killing of Gay man, but in this case...well, I just feel it may be some vicious closeted homos involved. Sometimes they are worse than hetero homophobes, but that's something you all know.

[MDS]

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001649531968#!/event.php?eid=274602429220812

[MW09]

May this young man rest in peace. Why did he have to die so horribly?!?! I hope his killer(s) are brought to justice soon!

I hope to expect more coverage of this on here Rod.

[Chitown Kev]

Here is what I don't get...

Just because he apparently was long acquainted with his attackers and simply because there may have been some "bad blood" between them does not mean that this wasn't a hate crime.