Atlanta police are pursuing at least three gang members who attacked a gay man in Southwest Atlanta on Saturday and the city’s top cop says investigators have identified two of the men.
Chief George Turner announced the development in the case on Thursday during a public safety meeting at a McDaniel Street church in the Pittsburgh neighborhood across the street from where the attack took place.
“We have identified at least two of the three individuals,” Turner said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “The fugitive department has a couple of warrants they are working to try to bring those individuals to justice.”
Identifying the suspects comes as Mayor Kasim Reed and Crime Stoppers boosted the reward for tips in the case to $15,000. City Council member Cleta Winslow, who represents District 4 where the incident took place, has also offered a $1,000 reward.
The attackers pounced on Brandon White (photo), a 20-year-old gay man, as he left the JVC Grocery & Deli on Saturday. The men beat and kicked White, yelled anti-gay slurs, recorded the incident and uploaded it to a hip hop website.
White spoke out on Wednesday, calling his attacked “monsters.”
“I shouldn’t have to worry about whether I should have to look over my shoulder. Is this person gong to attack, is that person going to attack me just for being a gay male,” he said.
On Saturday, LGBT activists are holding a rally outside the store. Rally – Communities United for Safety is scheduled for 10 a.m. At 1 p.m., the Evolution Project is hosting We Stand with you! A Forum on LGBT Violence!
