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Beating Of Gay Sac Man Appears To Be Hate Crime
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ― Marquis Bryant says he was just leaving a nightclub when four men beat him so badly he had to be hospitalized.
A
bruised head and swollen eye didn't stop 20-year-old Marquis from
speaking publicly about the attack. He's admittedly afraid after what
happened, but said he is not afraid of who he is.
"I've been called names while I was out, but never like this," said Bryant.
Bryant says the attackers started by yelling offensive remarks.
"I was being called a 'fag', a 'faggott.' The next thing I know I'm hitting the ground," said Bryant.
He
says as he was nearing the corner of 20th St. and J St. when he put
some head phones on a starting listening to music. All of a sudden, the
suspects allegedly jumped on him and knocked him to he ground.
"We don't tolerate crimes like this," said Sgt. Matt Young, Sacramento Police Department.
Sacrament
Police believe the 20-year-old may have been targeted because the bag
he was carrying may have looked to his alleged attackers like a woman's
purse.
"It's a huge concern that within our own community, our
own area that this kind of attack has taken place," said Lester
Neblett, Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center.
Neblett sent a
mass e-mailing notifying members of the gay and lesbian communities of
what happened. In it, he warned citizens to be careful, don't isolate
yourself; just be very cautious.
"There's always going to be people out there who just don't agree with the way other people live," said Neblett.
Police
say the description of the suspects is limited to their age: 20s.
However, they say they have a witness. They also say that the suspects
are each facing a hate crime charge.