Teenagers arrested for violent attack on gay couple in Washington
Braden Brecht and Karl Craven. (GoFundMe)
Three teenagers have been arrested in connection with an attack on a gay couple in Washington, DC, early on Sunday morning (June 16).
Homophobic slurs were allegedly shouted at the couple by a group of around 15 people, who surrounded them, beat them up and stole one of the victims’ phone and the other victim’s wallet.
Police arrested and charged two male youths, aged 15 and 16, and a 19-year-old called Marcus Britt, on Sunday.
“The case is still under investigation, and sexual orientation is being investigated as a motivation,” Alaina Gertz, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police Department, said to NBC News.
Karl Craven and his boyfriend, Braden Brecht, were walking from Hawthorne’s restaurant to gay sports bar Nellie’s when the attack happened.
The gay couple had stopped to talk for a few minutes when, according to a GoFundMe set up by Craven to cover Braden’s medical costs, “guys started yelling ‘faggot’ at him [Braden] and started to swing at him.”
“It was all a quick blur but next thing you know there was literally a mob of 15 guys beating him.”
“They came out of nowhere… I don’t remember how long they kept beating him for,” Craven said.
Craven posted pictures on the GoFundMe page that showed his boyfriend with a black eye and gauze covering his bloody, swollen lip.
“He doesn’t have insurance and can’t afford the ER and tooth repair bills,” Craven wrote. “Any help would be greatly appreciated.”
The fundraiser has raised almost $12,000. Craven posted an update on Sunday night that said, “DC Police LGBT Liaison Unit just visited us to see how we are doing.”
The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that Brett Parson, who oversees the LGBT Liaison unit, is “working on the case.”
The three men arrested are from Fort Washington. They have all been charged with robbery by force and violence.
