Two men have been arrested for a shocking attack on a Reno, Texas gay man.
26-year-old Burke Bennett received 30 stitches to close stab wounds on his back and forearms inflicted by a broken beer bottle, reports the Dallas Voice, as well as second-degree burns and severe bruises after being assaulted at a private party on Sunday.
The attackers reportedly screamed slurs like "pussy-ass faggot," "gay bitch," and "cock-sucking punk," as they punched, stabbed, and eventually threw Burke onto a fire.
Now Daniel Martin, 33, and James "Tray" Mitchell Laster III, 31, have been charged with the assault reports to the Dallas Voice.
But, though Burnett said the officer who investigated the assault told him the attack would be deemed a hate crime, it looks as though it may not be classified as such after all.
Both perpetrators are being charged with one count of aggravated assault with a a deadly weapon, and one count of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury -- first-degree felonies punishable by five to 99 years in prison the Dallas Voice notes.
Because there is no further penalty for a crime already labeled a first-degree felony if it's also designated a hate crime, it looks doubtful that prosecutors will pursue that route.
The paper reports that Reno police spokeswoman Alicia Myrick said it will be up the Lamar County District Attorney's Office to determine whether the case is prosecuted as a hate crime.
"That’s not our decision," Myrick said.
Burke is, sadly, one of several gay men who have been attacked and set on fire in recent weeks.
In September a Pennsylvania man awoke to find that his "friends" had doused him in rum and set his leg on fire. On October 22 a Scottish man was found dead after being beaten and burned.
So while reading this... I felt two emotions: anger and sadness. I was angry because of all the hate in our world that has lead humans to attack other humans in violence. And I was sad because my heart goes out to these people who must feel so alone in the world.
ReplyDeleteHow can someone ever think that actions like this are justified??? Just like in everything and all controversial topics, people are always going to have different opinions and views about the LGBTQ community that stem from a variety of things including background, religion, personal experience, upbringing, culture, moral/ethical views, and individualistic expressions...but what boggles my mind is that people feel as though they are entitled to act in violence and hatred toward another human being.