20-year-old Brandon White has been identified as the man brutally beaten by Atlanta gang members, who then videotaped and uploaded the assault to the Internet.
STORY: What In The?!? Atlanta Gang Beats Down Gay Man
Brandon spoke to a room full of reporters saying that at first he wasn’t going to call the police because he was embarrassed.
“At first I was embarrassed, but if they are willing to put it out there, I’m going to face it.”
In the news conference, Brandon spoke, along with Atlanta area gay activists and leaders from the community. All of them soundly condemned the attack, along with the ongoing gang activity in that area.
Brandon said he was still shaken by the violent gang assault Saturday that caught national attention and became the center of the debate over crimes against gay men and women.
“I shouldn’t have to look over my shoulder just because I’m gay,” he told a room filled with reporters. “Who’s to say they won’t try to come after me again? Who can say they won’t try to kill me?”
Atlanta Police Chief George Turner said investigators know who some of the suspects are who were videotaped and warrants are being processed for their arrest.
“We have identified at least two of the three individuals. The fugitive department has a couple of warrants they are working to try to bring those individuals to justice,” said Turner.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s office increased the reward again from $10,000 to $15,000 to garner information.
As for Brandon, he said he hasn’t been back to the site of the assault. Brandon was beaten up by three members of the so-called 1029 Jack City Gang in broad daylight. One man even slammed an abandoned tire into his head while he was on the ground, while a fourth man videotaped the incident.
All the while, the men were calling him faggot and other homophobic terms and shouting that his kind wasn’t wanted around “Jack City.” No arrests have been made, but the FBI is working with Atlanta police to track down the three suspects seen in the video.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $15,000 reward for information on the case. Anyone with information should call 404-577-8477.
