Two gay men were robbed and beaten early Sunday a few blocks from Blake’s where the pair had attended a going away party.
The men — Drew Childs and Trenton Theiler — were robbed near 9th Street and Argonne Avenue about 2:40 a.m. on Sunday, according to the Atlanta Police Department. Minutes earlier, the men left Blake’s where they were attending a going away party for Childs, who is moving from Atlanta.
Two men approached the pair as they walked along 9th Street, striking Theiler in the head and hitting Childs several times in the face. Theiler was able to run to 10 Street, but the assailants took Childs’ wallet. Both men were treated for injuries at Grady Hospital.
Childs tweeted about the incident:
What a night. Said good-bye to all my friends, got mugged, and woke-up in an ambulance. #wondrous #hateatlanta
Police say Childs could not recall the incident and that Theiler provided details to responding officers. The LGBT liaisons for Atlanta police were notified of the incident and are planning to follow up with the two men, according to a police spokesperson. We reached out to Childs and Theiler on Monday and will update if they respond.
The incident is one of several attacks in Midtown, including two armed robberies and a fatal shooting.
Lt. Brent Schierbaum, the gay cop who oversees the Atlanta Police Department’s Community Liaison Unit, recently offered tips on staying safe in Midtown.