Tag: hate crime

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Las Vegas: Arson Attempt At LGBTQ Community Center

On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots credited with inspiring the modern LGBTQ rights movement, the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas was the target of an apparent arson attempt.
Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas

On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots credited with inspiring the modern LGBTQ rights movement, the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas was the target of an apparent arson attempt.

Jason Dinant, a reporter for local ABC affiliate KTNV, reports employees showed up to work this morning to find someone someone had started a fire outside the building.

Surveillance cameras captured video of a man trying to rip down a Stonewall banner. Failing in that attempt, the video shows him setting fire to a palm tree nearest the building.

KTNV reports a propane tank was found near the tree.

“As we enter the final week of Pride Month, the 50th Anniversary of Stonewall and major celebrations take place this weekend in New York, San Francisco, and around the world, this attempted arson and hate crime against our community reinforce the need for LGBTQ+ Pride events,” read the statement. “Our equality, rights, and our lives remain at risk.”

The post went on to say “this vengeful act reminds us to be alert, be safe, and if you see something, say something.”

“To everyone around the world attending Pride events this weekend, let this be a reminder of why you are celebrating and why our fight for equality continues,” concluded the post.

The Center’s executive director, John Waldron, told KTNVthat the organization had received “an alarming voicemail this week from a person upset about rainbow flags flying with American flags.”

Earlier this month, the Trump administration rejected requests from U.S. embassies around the world to fly rainbow flags alongside American flags during Pride Month, but there’s currently no clear evidence that guidance might have played inspired these actions.

Las Vegas police, arson investigators and the FBI are investigating the arson attempt.

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Dallas Karaoke Host Wakes Up With Fractured Skull, Broken Jaw But No Memory

Oscar Rodriguez

A popular karaoke host at the Dallas gay bar, the Round Up Saloon, is still suffering the severe after-effects of an apparent late night assault.

Oscar Rodriguez remembers leaving after his shift at the Round Up a little after 2 a.m. on April 14.

But the next thing he can remember is waking up in his car. There was no damage to his vehicle, his ID and cash were still on him, but his phone was missing.

Although he was experiencing an excruciating head ache, he was able to drive to his home in the neighborhood of Oak Lawn, but it soon became apparent he needed serious medical attention.

(screen capture)

His roommate drove him to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a bleeding brain, a fractured skull, a broken jaw and several missing teeth. Surgery was required to wire his jaw shut and insert metal plates in his head.

Rodriguez’s friend and co-worker, Nikkii Meister, told WFAA News, “The doctors at Parkland (Hospital) said whoever did this intended for him to not walk away from it.”

The 32-year-old karaoke host says he’s still experiencing serious memory loss.

“My memory was all over the place,” he told WFAA. “I couldn’t remember what year it was, I couldn’t remember my birthdate.”

With no memory of the assault, and no leads to go on, police have made no arrests in the case.

Additionally, Rodriguez has no health insurance, so the bills are mounting up quickly. With his jaw wired shut for several more weeks, he can’t work as a karaoke host without being able to talk.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help defray the costs of his medical treatment.

(Source: WFAA)

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Report: Dallas Man Was Offered $200 To Assault Trans Woman

The Dallas Morning News reports that Edward Dominic Thomas, accused of brutally assaulting a transgender woman, was offered $200 to beat her.

The Dallas Morning News reports that Edward Dominic Thomas, accused of brutally assaulting a transgender woman, was offered $200 to beat her.

The altercation took place between 5 and 6 p.m. on Friday at the Royal Crest Apartments in Dallas, Texas.

The victim, 23-year-old Muhlaysia Booker, told police she accidentally backed into another car in the parking lot of the apartment complex.

The driver of the vehicle, who has been named as a suspect but not yet arrested, admitted to running Booker “off the road to keep her from fleeing.”

The driver reportedly aimed a gun at Booker while demanding $200 for the vehicle damage.

As a crowd gathered, someone reportedly offered Thomas $200 to beat Booker, according to the police affidavit.

Edward Dominic Thomas (mugshot)
Video of Thomas viciously beating Booker went viral after being posted to Facebook.

In the video, Thomas punches the transgender woman over and over. At one point, two other men joined in kicking Booker.

Click below to watch the video. Warning – graphic violence:

The attack ended when several women picked Booker up, and transported her to UT Southwestern Medical Center where she was treated for a concussion, a fractured wrist and bruising.

Booker told the police she heard homophobic slurs during the attack.

According to the Dallas Morning News, Thomas has a record of previous convictions for family violence assault, burglary and unlawful carrying of a weapon.

Thomas was interviewed on Sunday by police, at which time he admitted to the assault but denied “saying anything derogatory.” He was charged with aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. His bail was set at $75,000.

A spokesman for Dallas Police, Lt. Vincent Weddington, told the press authorities are looking into whether hate crime charges may apply to the incident.

Weddington also announced the police anticipate more arrests in the case.

“This case is certainly disturbing,” Weddington said. “The video, I’m sure, shocks the conscience of anyone who looks at this video. … This is being taken very seriously in our department.”

Mayor Mike Rawlings issued a statement about the assault via Twitter which read, “I am extremely angry about what appears to be mob violence against this woman. I am in contact with the chief and she assured me that the Dallas Police Department is fully investigating, including the possibility that this was a hate crime.”

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Homophobic Swordsman Arrested After Nearly Severing Man’s Hand In Attack

San Francisco police have arrested a man accused of slashing and nearly severing the hand of a gay man at a roller rink on March 29.
Leor Bergland arrested for attempted murder with a sword (mugshot via SF Police)

San Francisco police have arrested a man accused of slashing and nearly severing the hand of a gay man at a roller rink on March 29.

The alleged attack happened about 9:50pm outside the Church of 8 Wheels roller rink.

The accused, 30-year-old Leor Bergland, was reportedly hanging around the roller rink with a sword tucked in the back of his pants and wearing a red flannel shirt and red MAGA hat, the preferred head gear of Donald Trump supporters.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports the victim, 27-year-old Gabriel Gaucin, passed Bergland on the street and swatted the MAGA hat off his head.

Prosecutors wrote in court papers that Bergland “suddenly reached back, as if to punch the victim, but instead quickly brought his hand down, hold what the victim thought was an umbrella or nightstick.”

Instead, it was a sword which partially severed Gaucin’s hand. The victim was treated at San Francisco General Hospital where he had to undergo emergency hand surgery.

The owner of the roller rink, David Miles Jr., told NBC News that Bergland was “mostly yelling anti-gay rhetoric.”

Police tracked Bergland down after matching fingerprints on a beer bottle and the MAGA hat left at the crime scene with a sword found by a security guard two days later. The weapon, wrapped in a red flannel shirt, had a matching fingerprint on it.

MAGA hat left behind by Bergland (image via 

The MAGA hat is notable in reporting the story because hate crimes have surged since Donald Trump took office. The FBI has reported that hate crimes had their biggest increase since 9/11 in 2017.

And, as Miles reported, Bergland used anti-gay slurs during the attack.

Bergland told the arresting officers he was home at the time of the assault and challenged them saying, “What do you have on me? Nothing, cause I didn’t do it.”

He was charged with attempted murder, mayhem, and assault with a deadly weapon.

The Chronicle reports Bergland was “defiant” during his first appearance in court.

He didn’t enter a plea, but argued with Deputy Public Defender Eric Quandt, saying, “Why are you telling me to be quiet? You just basically implied that I did it.”

Judge Donna Little set his bail at $250,000.

A spokesman for the district attorney’s office told the Chronicle, “No one has a right to strike someone with a sword because their hat was knocked off their head.”

But Quandt pointed out in court that Bergland didn’t instigate the incident.

“What the reports seem to suggest is that this defendant reacted to being either attacked, or a hat thrown off his head, or something along those lines,” said Quandt.

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All Charges Against ‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett Dropped!

TMZ is reporting all criminal charges against Empire actor Jussie Smollett have been dropped.
‘Empire’ star Jussie Smollett

TMZ is reporting all criminal charges against Empire actor Jussie Smollett have been dropped.

According to reports, Smollett will surrender his $10,000 bond, but that will be the only penalty paid by the actor.

As TMZ writes, “The case is over.”

A statement from Smollett’s lawyers reads, “Today, all criminal charges against Jussie Smollett were dropped and his record has been wiped clean of the filing of this tragic complaint against him.”

“Jussie was attacked by 2 people he was unable to identify on January 29th,” the statement continued. “He was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false and inappropriate remarks made to the public, causing an inappropriate rush to judgment.”

Saying Smollett and others were “hurt by these unfair and unwarranted actions,”  the attorneys described the situation as “a reminder that there should never be an attempt to prove a case in the court of public opinion. That is wrong. It is a reminder that a victim, in this case Jussie, deserves dignity and respect.”

The statement concludes with: “Dismissal of charges against the victim in this case was the only just result.”

Smollett was facing 16 felony counts of lying to police in the alleged racial and homophobic attack.

The actor had reported to the police that on January 29, he was attacked by two men who physically assaulted him, poured an unidentified liquid on his head, and put a noose around his neck – all while allegedly yelling homophobic and racist slurs.

But TMZ reports, via sources close to Smollett, that the prosecution’s case “disintegrated.”

For one thing, a $3,500 check from Smollett to the two brothers seems to have become problematic.

While the police asserted the check was for taking part in the fake attack, Smollett’s claim that it was for physical training appears to be true.

Additionally, while the Police Superintendent told the press that Smollett wrote himself a threatening letter 6 days before the attack, it seems the FBI had not concluded who wrote the letter.

UPDATE – Outside the Chicago courthouse, Smollett made this statement today:

“I want you to know that not for a moment was it in vain. I’ve been truthful and consistent on every single level since day one. I would not be my mother’s son if I was capable of one drop of what I was accused of. This has been an incredibly difficult time. Honestly, one of the worst of my entire life. But I am a man of faith and I’m a man that has knowledge of my history and I would not bring my family our lives, or the movement into a fire like this. I just wouldn’t. Now I’d like nothing more than to just get back to work and move on with my life. But make no mistake I will always continue to fight for justice, equality and betterment of marginalized people everywhere.”

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Chicago: Jussie Smollett Enters ‘Not Guilty’ Plea To 16 Felony Counts

Actor Jussie Smollett appeared in a Chicago courtroom Thursday morning to officially plead ‘not guilty’ to 16 counts of felony disorderly conduct.
Jussie Smollett pleaded ‘not guilty’ in Chicago today

Actor Jussie Smollett appeared in a Chicago courtroom Thursday morning to officially plead ‘not guilty’ to 16 counts of felony disorderly conduct.

The charges stem from his claim that on January 29, during a late-night food run, he was assaulted by two men who physically beat him, put a noose around his neck, and poured an unidentified liquid on his head. Smollett alleges his assailants used homophobic and racist slurs during the attack.

The Chicago Police Department were able to track down the two men – brothers Ola and Abel Osundairo – via surveillance cameras. The two men told police they were paid by Smollett to stage the incident in an effort by Smollett to increase his salary on Empire.

On March 9, a grand jury indicted Smollett on 16 felony counts of disorderly conduct for filing false police reports.

Since the scandal has escalated and charges were filed against him, the TV show has written Smollett’s character out of the remaining episodes this season.

His attorney, Tina Glandian, entered the plea during the brief hearing at Leighton Criminal Courthouse, according to Chicago’s local CBS2 News.

Following the plea, Cook County Judge Steven Watkins ruled that Smollett may travel to California and New York for consultations with his lawyers as long he provides the court with 48 hours notice.

Otherwise, the 36-year-old will not be allowed to leave the state of Illinois without prior permission from the court.

The presiding Criminal Court Judge allowed cameras in the courtroom today, but Judge Watkins will have the final say as to whether future hearings will be open to media cameras.

Smollett has indicated through his lawyers that he wants the cameras in the court as a balance to what he says are ‘misinformation’ leaks. His attorneys say they want the public to see evidence as it is presented in court.

During a recent appearance on CNN with Anderson Cooper, Smollett’s defense attorney Mark Geragos claimed the Empire star has been the victim of a ‘media gang bang.’

“What is happening here is, frankly, a media gang bang of this guy of unprecedented proportions,” said the celebrity lawyer who has previously represented Michael Jackson, Winona Ryder and Scott Peterson.

He added later, “I defy anybody to find any indictment anywhere where somebody has brought 16 counts for being a victim of a hate crime.”

Smollett’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 17. Watch Geragos’s ‘gang bang’ appearance on CNN below.

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Grand Jury Indicts ‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett On 16 Felony Charges

In a stunning turn of events, Empire star Jussie Smollett has been indicted on 16 felony counts by a grand jury in Chicago.
Jussie Smollett (mug shot via Chicago Police Dept)

In a stunning turn of events, Empire star Jussie Smollett has been indicted on 16 felony counts by a grand jury in Chicago.

Smollett was charged last month with felony disorderly conduct for filing a false police report on January 29.

Smollett had claimed he was attacked during a late-night food run by two masked men. The 36-year-old actor alleged the men beat him, put a noose around his neck, and poured an unidentified liquid on his head – all while yelling homophobic and racist slurs.

Police later tracked down the two men using surveillance footage, who say Smollett paid them to stage the attack.

Chicago’s local ABC News affiliate says the grand jury returned two separate sets of charges.

One related to Smollett’s initial statement to the police about the alleged hate crime. The second set of charges are in regard to his followup interview with the police later that same day.

ABC7 reports, “The new set of charges each carry a possible sentence of probation to four years.”

During a press conference last month, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said that the actor initially faked a homophobic, racist letter to himself.

But when the actor didn’t get the response he desired, Johnson said Smollett paid the two brothers $3,500 to stage the attack because he was “dissatisfied with his salary.”

Stay tuned – developing story…

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Austin: Four Men Arrested In Late Night Gay Bashing

Spencer Deehring and Tristan Perry

Four men have been arrested in connection with the brutal homophobic attack in downtown Austin last month that sent the two victims to the hospital.

According to NBC affiliate KXAN, the four suspects are:

• Frank Macias
• Miguel Macias
• Kolby Monnell
• Quinn O’Connor

All four face two counts of second-degree felony assault.

According to KXAN, a second-degree aggravated assault charge, if convicted, could result in a prison sentence of two to 20 years. If a hate crime finding was successfully proven on top of that, the sentencing range would increase to five to 99 years in prison.

Officials say social media played a part in identifying some of the suspects by matching physical descriptions as well as tattoos, as well as surveillance footage from nearby buildings.

Frank Macias, Quinn O’Connor, Miguel Macias, Kolby Monnell (l-r)

Additionally, a few days after the attack was reported, the police received a crime stoppers tip naming Frank Macias and another individual.

The victims, Spencer Deehring and Tristan Perry, told police they were walking down the street holding hands when a man called them a homophobic slur. When they asked what he had said, the man began calling them ‘faggots’ and called previously-unseen men who joined in the attack.

The four reportedly followed the couple taunting them with homophobic slurs.

When Perry attempted to verbally defend himself, he says he was punched by a muscular man with long, blond hair. Falling to the ground, the four joined in punching and kicking him.

When Deehring tried to defend Perry, they turned on him as well.

The attack ended when a passerby happened to see the assault.

Both men were transported to a hospital to be treated for serious injuries.

Deehring positively identified Macias in a police lineup. And according to reports, Macias then implicated his brother and the two other men.

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Texas: Gay Couple Hospitalized After Late Night Hate Crime In Austin

Tristan Perry (L) and Spencer Deehring (R)

A gay couple was attacked in an apparent hate crime early Saturday morning in Austin, Texas.

Tristan Perry and Spencer Deehring were walking to their car around 2:45am after celebrating a friend’s birthday at Rain nightclub in downtown Austin.

The couple passed a man on the street who called them a homophobic slur. They told local news station KXAN they believe it was because they had been holding hands.

Deehring says he responded to the slur by saying something along the lines of “I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you.”

At that point, Deehring says the man called out to his group of friends who were previously unseen. The mob began to follow the couple as they headed to their car.

The group began “yelling every expletive you can think of,” says Deehring, who told them, “I don’t have anything more to say to you guys, we’re just going home, leave us alone.”

And that’s when Perry was punched in the face suffering a broken nose and falling to the ground. While down, another in the group kicked Perry in the back of his head.

Deehring attempted to defend his boyfriend by tackling the men, but was knocked unconscious after being punched by members of the mob.

A bystander walking by may have saved their lives as the attackers fled upon being seen. The bystander called 911 and waited with the men until police and an ambulance arrived. Both men were hospitalized.

Perry was treated for a cut on the back of his head, a broken nose, chipped teeth, and multiple bruises. He continues to experience memory lapses.

Deehring suffered several lacerations, bruises to the back of his neck and head, and swelling to his jaw and mouth.

The president of the Austin chapter of PFLAG, Anna Nguyen, told KXAN that while she has seen violence targeting LGBTQ people in Austin in the past, “It feels as if lately the frequency has ratched up quite a bit.”

“I think Austin as a community needs to step up its game and prove it’s one of the most LGBTQIA-friendly cities in the country by deed, and not just by words,” she added.

Statistics released last November by the FBI show an increase of LGBT-related hate crimes in Texas when comparing data from 2016 to 2017.

The couple has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help defray the medical costs.

On the GoFundMe page, after explaining the attack that landed them in the hospital, they write:

Today I ask for your help with the burden we have been given of medical expenses related to this experience. Both of us were transported in an ambulance and given emergency trauma care at a local hospital. Due to this we expect our bills to exceed the thousands of dollars due to receiving comprehensive radiological care. And we ask for your love and support during our difficult time. Any help you can give is immensely appreciated. Always spread love and positivity. End hate.

They also shared their story on Facebook wanting people to realize attacks like this can happen to anyone.

Additionally, as a result of sharing the news of the attack, Deehring came out to his family and loved ones.

Grateful for the support they’ve received since the attack, the couple say they have a message for others.

“Spread love, end all this hatred, end all this closed-mindedness always watch your surroundings, always be aware of your surroundings, don’t walk alone,” says Perry.

And Deehring adds, “Be aware of your surroundings, but don’t change who you are as a person, don’t ever change who you are as a person and don’t be afraid to go out there and explore the world, just as you are.”

Watch the report from KXAN below:

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Two Men Arrested & Charged In Violent Hate Crime Attack On Gay Couple

Kealan Abraham (L) and Andre Duncan (R)

According to local Fox News affiliate, Andre Duncan, 39, and Kealan Abraham, 34, were arrested and charged with battery with a deadly weapon, battery with use of deadly weapon result of substantial bodily harm and conspiracy to commit criminal contempt.

The incident occurred near Vegas Drive and Simmons Street outside the gay couple’s home.

Charles Clements told police he and his boyfriend were followed home and attacked on November 29 as they arrived at their home.

The assault spilled onto their front patio where a glass table was knocked over and shattered. According to Clements, one of the men picked up a shard of glass and began to stab his boyfriend Vincent in the back puncturing his lung and breaking two ribs.

Clements said the men called Vincent a “faggot” and “an abomination” during the attack. Clements suffered head wounds.

Clements said neighbors heard the attack and then saw everything.

“Neighbors, everybody just looking,” he said. “Nobody called the police.”

Police said officers found Duncan’s driver’s license on the scene of the attack.

Vincent told police he recognized one of the attackers as a man who works with him at Walmart. That’s how the man knew about their relationship, he said.

“It was all about gay bashing,” Clements said. “The guy came up to my boyfriend’s job, calling him an abomination, calling him ‘fag.’”

When police went to Abraham’s home on December 2, Duncan’s car was present. According to police reports, he was seen leaving the home and drove to Walmart. Officers arrested him there.

Police arrested Abraham at his home.

Both men admitted to taking part in the fight but claimed there was not ‘hate crime’ aspect to the attack.