Homophobic attackers carved ‘die fag’ into this man’s arms
A man has been the victim of a homophobic attack during which those responsible tried to get him to drink bleach.
Rick Jones, the owner of a pizza restaurant in Utah, also had the word “fag” carved into his arm, after he sent employees home.
When he went to take the rubbish out the back, he said he was “knocked out” before feeling like “someone was forcing my legs and hands down.”
As well as saying his attackers tried to get him to drink bleach, the 21-year-old said he woke up in hospital later with bruises all over his body, and the word “fag” and “die” carved into his arms.
“On one arm it said ‘die’ and on the other arm it said ‘f*g’,” he said.
The restaurant was also robbed of $1,300, and in a later incident of $1,800.
The resident of Delta, Utah, was to see more homophobia in coming weeks, however, as Jones says a molotov cocktail was thrown through the window of his bedroom at his parents’ house, and “die fag” was also spray painted onto the garage door.
Police have now launched an investigation into the attacks.
Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer J Cox issued a statement on Friday saying: “I was horrified and heart-broken to learn of this cowardly and barbaric assault.
“The Jones family is an upstanding, well-respected and beloved part of the Delta community. … This will not stand.”
