Charges against three Chicago-area men who allegedly beat up a gay man were upgraded Tuesday to felony hate crimes, reports WBBM-TV.
On January 10, Daniel Hauff of Rogers Park was riding a Red Line CTA train when he came between three men that were verbally harassing and shoving a gay teen.
The three men — Sean Little, Benjamin Eder and Kevin McAndrew — allegedly turned their anger on Hauff, calling him a “stupid faggot” and punching and bloodying Hauff’s face in front of train passengers.
Another man tried to help and numerous other passengers pushed the train’s emergency button, the release said. A witness confirmed Little had been harassing and shoving a young man for being homosexual.
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The three men, all in their early 20s from Evanston, Ill., were arrested that day by Chicago Police, and originally charged with misdemeanor battery and released on bond.
Attorneys for three men charged with a hate crime argued that Huff was targeted for intervening in another fight, and not because of his sexual orientation.
