The Dallas Police Department is searching for at least five men who beat two men with baseball bats, reports WFAA. The attack happened Tuesday morning in northeast Dallas. The suspects shouted gay slurs from their vehicle before ambushing the pedestrians.
Both of the victims were Black men, according to police reports published by the Dallas Voice.
According to a police report, the suspects called the victims, both black males, “fags and sissy” before exiting the vehicle and assaulting them. One of the victims said he was struck at least four times in the head with a bat and lost consciousness until after the suspects left. The other victim attempted to fight back and got caught in the passenger side of the suspects’ vehicle. The suspects dragged the victim an unknown distance before he could free himself.
The victims then transported themselves to Medical City Hospital, according to reports. Officers who responded to the hospital described the victims’ injuries as cuts to the head and nose, bruising and swelling to the cheek and eye socket, chipped upper teeth, and abrasions to the toe, finger, shoulder and stomach.
The FBI has joined the investigation. If police determine it was a hate crime this could become a federal offense.
FOX Dallas produced a good report on the incident. Note the inclusion of the Black woman who says that she has a gay son and is concerned. Watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...
It's good that the FBI has joined the investigation. This indicates that law enforcement officials are taking attacks on LGBT people, and specifically black LGBT people, seriously.
I hope gay black men are taking note of FBI involvement in this case and in Brandon White's case.
Black gay men are doing themselves, and other gay black men, a disservice when they do not COME FORWARD in the face of anti-gay violence because it encourages violent homophobes to think gay black men can be preyed upon with impunity.
Anti-gay attacks should ALWAYS be reported to the authorities. It's the job of law enforcement officials to protect us along with everybody else.
Posted by: elg | 16 March 2012 at 08:22
Of course this was a hate crime. Did they attack these guys and yell homophobic slurs because they liked them? And it was racially motivated too. I hope all five end up in prison.
Five against two with baseball bats? So typical of straight cowards who attack us.
I think we are still the most despised minority in the country.
Posted by: Jerry | 16 March 2012 at 08:34