Four men arrested following Miami Beach Gay Pride attack
The state attorney's office will decide whether it had homophobic intent
By Steve Brown
Four men have turned themselves in to the police following the brutal homophobic attack at Miami Beach Gay Pride.
The men – Juan C. Lopez, Adonis Diaz, Pablo Reinaldo Romo and Luis M. Alonso – were arrested and charged with aggravated battery after attacking gay couple Rene Charlarca and Dmitry Logunov, PinkNews reported.
On Sunday (08.04.18), the couple were walking near a public toilet after celebrating Pride when they were confronted and attacked by group of men.
Logunov was hit and knocked to the ground, before the attackers turned on Charlarca when he confronted them.
The two men managed to get away from their attackers but were pursued and were left with multiple cuts and bruises to their faces and other parts of their bodies.
Police released CCTV footage of the attack in a bid to identify the attackers and following a public appeal, the men turned themselves in.
Watch: @MiamiBeachPD releases violent video of attack of two gay men and a Good Samaritan after Pride Parade. They are looking for 4 people involved. @nbc6 pic.twitter.com/YN8B7d52SB
— Jamie Guirola (@jamieNBC6) April 10, 2018
Miami Beach Police Department said it would be up to the state attorney’s office to decide whether the attack had homophobic intent or not.
Writing on Twitter, State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said the Hate Crimes Unit will “evaluate this incident thoroughly”.
She said: “I can assure you & out community that my Hate Crimes Unit will evaluate this incident thoroughly.
“They have been working with Miami Beach PD since it occurred. Hate crimes can be enhanced under Florida law. [sic]”