Second suspect arrested in violent Palm Springs anti-gay attack
A second man has been arrested in a hate-crime attack in Palm Springs.
A man was arrested on Monday, and along with an accomplice, is accused of attacking two gay men, both prominent LGBT activists.
George Zander is an LGBT rights activist
Christopher James Carr, 30, was arrested in Desert Hot Springs, and Keith Terranova, 35, was previously arrested in connection with the 1 November attack.
Victims, George and Chris Zander, were walking on Calle Encilia in Palm Springs, when they say they were approached by Carr.
Then, they say Carr “intentionally” knocked into them, and used a homophobic slur, telling them to move.
After Carr argued with Chris Zander, the former tackled the victim to the ground.
Then later, according to court documents, Carr returned with Terranova, and the pair attacked the Zanders.
Terranova is accused of attacking Chris Zander with a tire iron.
Carr, who has a history of arrests for various offences, was arrested after Terranova, who pleaded not guilty to the charges on 16 November.
George Zander, 71, received surgery for a double hip fracture and Chris Zander suffered a concussion, and required staples in his head.
The attack has been condemned by Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet, and by Representative Raul Ruiz.
It took place just days before the city’s Pride parade, and caused an uproar in an area normally accepting of LGBT people.
