911 Call Reveals More About Charleston Homophobic Hate Crime
Recordings of 911 calls by a gay Charleston, S.C. man reveal more about what local authorities are describing as a hate crime, ABC 4 News reports.
On Sunday October 25, the gay man was in his car on the side of the road texting when the assailant allegedly approached on foot. The assailant verbally accosted and threatened the man by showing him a gun and throwing a phone charger at the car. The victim was able to drive away, though the assailant pursued on foot.
In the recording, the victims tells dispatchers, "I've got this guy following me because I'm gay. He's trying to shoot me. He's like, 'We don't like [slur] around here, keep going!'
He continued: "I'm sitting there texting and this guy he's like, 'What you following me for?,' I was like, 'Ain't nobody following you, I'm sending a text message.' He's like, 'Y'all talking gay. We don't want no gay people around here,' blah blah blah."
The suspect is described as a black male, mid-to-late 30s, approximately 6-feet tall, and around 190-200 pounds. According to the victim, the suspect wore a black T-shirt, blue jeans torn at the knees, and white and black Nike shoes.
As ABC 4 News reports, "Charleston Police Chief Luther Reynolds says his officers will charge any suspects arrested in this case with violating the city's 'Hate Intimidation' ordinance." The ordinance, which was passed by the Charleston City Council in 2018, states that violation carries a fine of up to $500, 30 days in jail, or both. The language of the ordinance states that a person is in violation of the ordinance with attempts to "intimidate another person or persons in whole or in part because of the actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or national origin."
South Carolina has no hate crime laws or punishments for them.