Group Assaulted As Assailants Yell Gay Slurs

BOSTON -- Four people were assaulted in Boston's South End early Sunday morning as the assailants yelled derogatory comments about gays.

Police were called to 375 Columbus Ave. at about 2:45 a.m., where the victims said they were assaulted by four Hispanic men who fled the scene in a white Honda.

The victims, three men and one woman, said that they were walking home when the car stopped alongside of them and the passengers began to yell obscenities. Police said that the occupants of the car got out of the vehicle and began to assault the victims.

One victim said that he was struck and could not remember who hit him, a second victim suffered a gash above his right eye, a third victim said she was punched in the head and thrown to the ground and the fourth person was not physically injured. Two of the victims were transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Two of the victims said that the men who assaulted them yelled slurs at them while they were punching and kicking them.

"I haven't slept a full night since it happened," one victim said. "These guys started yelling, just these, like, homophobic slurs out their window."

"I am afraid to go out in my street in general now, let alone it be at night," another victim said.

"This sad incident shows us that homophobia is alive and well, even in places that are normally viewed as 'gay friendly,' such as the South End. It should be a wake-up call to us all, a reminder that we need to continue working together to promote tolerance, education and understanding. No one should have to walk down the street fearing they’ll be attacked just for being who they are," said MassEquality Executive Director Marc Solomon.

Police found a cell phone on the ground believed to belong to one of the assailants.