New Mexico: Teen knocked out in shopping mall anti-gay assault captured on video
A 14-year-old who suffered a vicious homophobic assault in a New Mexico shopping mall has been banned from the premises for 12 months.
The boy, called Issaic, told KOB Eyewitness News 4 he was targeted for being gay.
He was walking out of the Coronado Mall in Albuquerque on Saturday when he was punched in the head by a 16-year-old.
Issaic said he already knew his attacker, who had been threatening him online.
The pair became involved in a spat following an argument about a girl.
They met in a chance encounter at the shopping mall.
Video of Issaic been knocked unconscious in front of shoppers was captured on a mobile phone and posted to the internet by the attacker’s friends.
However, despite being assaulted, the mall gave both teens the same punishment and banned them both for a year.
“He just didn’t like me being gay,” said Issaic.”I’m used to it, but I’m just like, ‘Why would you want to fight someone over that.'”
Issaic decided not to press charges, despite being knocked out.
“He hit me, he posted it, he thought it was funny, and whenever it actually goes viral, then he wants to try to be my friend again,” said Issaic.
