Gay Man Victim of Alleged Hate Crime Shooting in San Francisco
San Francisco resident Emory Etheridge was wounded in a shooting in the SoMa district when a gunman opened fire from a carwash bay in the early hours of May 24, according to reports.
As Etheridge tells the story, the shooter made it clear right away that a hate crime was happening: He allegedly yelled an anti-gay slur just before pulling the trigger, sending Etheridge to the ground with a bullet in his hip.
"I heard 'Faggot!' and I was like, 'What?'" Etheridge told the news media, NBC Bay Area reported. "I looked over, and the moment he said 'faggot,' he shot me."
The assailant then jumped into his car and sped off, Etheridge said, adding that the shock of the attack and blood loss, together with the poor lighting conditions, made it impossible for him to register much about the gunman or the getaway car.
The shooting happened "less than a mile from" the home Etheridge shares with his husband. He was waiting for an Uber after a night out with friends when the shooting took place.
Etheridge was treated at San Francisco General, SFist reported, adding: "The bullet lodged in Etheridge's hip and was not removed, but he was stitched up and will now undergo six weeks of rehab."
Taking to Facebook, Etheridge posted a photo of himself on crutches along with the message, "I'm home, and with an extra bullet inside.
Thank you all so much for all your kind words and support. I appreciate you and I love you!"
The SFPD is treating the incident as a hate crime, reports noted.
Speaking with the media, Etheridge remained upbeat — and grateful.
"I'm not going to complain about my situation after seeing what I've seen this week," he said, evidently referring to the recent mass shooting at a school in Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman murdered 19 children and two adults."
He added: "I'm just lucky to be alive."