Joshua Esskew
Officials in South Carolina have charged five men with the attack on a gay teen who was assaulted outside a convenience store in Rock Hill on April 9.
Joshua Esskew, 19, said he was walking into the store when a man shouted a gay slur at him. When Esskew walked away, that man hit him with a beer bottle in the back of the head.
All five are charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, a felony that carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
From left: Bobby Wilson, Darenco Wilmore, LaJames Mitchell, Lortarius Duncan, and Cortezio Douglas
The five men could face additional charges, as the FBI has been investigating the assault as a possible hate crime. Sheriff Bruce Bryant said Friday that the FBI is turning over its findings to the U.S. Justice Department, the Charlotte Observer reported.
All five suspects are from York, S.C. Charged in the case were: Cortezio Laquise Douglas, 21; Lortarius Anthony Duncan, 22; LaJames Mitchell, 22; Darenco Markie Wilmore, 21; and Bobby Wilson, 20.
“The suspects in this crime have been identified and are being brought to justice due to cooperation between law enforcement and the willingness of the public to get involved and not let this violent crime go unpunished,” said York County Sheriff Bruce Bryant.
Tips from the public after the release of surveillance video of the attack helped authorities identify the suspects.
Filed under: South Carolina
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As a founding member of Black and White Men Together, I find this utterly disgusting and personally painful and distressing. When will the hatred and violence end? With all of the oppression by the elite power structure which aims to keep all identified minorities at each other’s throats so that they can continue to amass more and more money and power, why do so many “buy in” to their agenda?
Thats just plain fukin ridiculous. I can’t stand ignorant ass people like that. They should be put away for life. This got me mad for the day… Its bigoted narrow minded fools like these that make gay teens want to kill themselves… In their heads, however, they’re probably thinking good riddance… And I’m thinking the same for them
so “brave”,such “machos” 5 to 1….why not 100000 to 1? everytime its the same -the herd against the individual! i hope they will be treatened the same way the treat this poor guy!
Well, that’s their future down the toilet. Somewhat. Assholes. -_-
Surround this young man with love and understanding. He must know there are many people around that care and want to help him succeed. As for those toothless backwater assholes, may they rot in hell.
Wow. I started to write that the video was like watching a pack of animals, but animals don’t behave like that. Animals attack to protect, defend, for food, or against a perceived threat. Those are just punks.
I agree with tammy
They need their asses kicked. I am tired of gays n lesbians turning the other cheek. We should start carrying a stick n beating them as well. Fuckers!
awful. the feeling of being attacked physically or mentally is so painful. my heart goes out to Joshua.
I agree with john as well…id “like” ur posts but I can’t do it thru this fone
I hope his attorney gets this to a federal level. Those thugs need to be put behind bars for more than 20 years.
Ppl who attack gays R more then likely gay them self and just pissed that they can’t find the courage 2 come out.
The fact that another minority would attack another minority puzzles me. These five been need to be tried in a court of law and let justice be served. Joshua needs to understand that he was not attacked because he was gay. He was attacked out of sheer ignorance and disrespect. As for the name calling that other fellow posters have done, well shame on you. The act of ignorance does not in turn equal another act of ignorance. It’s not “turning the other cheek”, it’s being dignified and showing others that Violence does not equal violence and hate does not equal hate.
Thats what they get! KARMA KARMA KARMA!
they will get theirs in prison when some bigger thug beats them into being his bitch.
Disgusting,ruthless,shitful individuals there is NO EXCUSE for this behavior may god have mercy on their souls..
I stand here today as one who hears all the people talk about the bible but I have only seen one person in my life as a gay stand true to what the bibles says. God does not want hate. He does not want death. He does not want people to turn on one another in any crime. So we as gays get knocked down stepped on and pushed to the side. Well I say we are pack a bag and go to south carolina and fight for Joshua and all the other gays that have to walk the streets there too they have right as people we have rights as gays to stand up next to one another and fight back.
hang them by their ball for a slow punishment.
“The five men could face additional charges, as the FBI has been investigating the assault as a possible hate crime.”
Possible hate crime?
“Joshua Esskew, 19, said he was walking into the store when a man shouted a gay slur at him. When Esskew walked away, that man hit him with a beer bottle in the back of the head.”
So they shout a homophobic slur at him and attack him soon after doing so?
That sounds an awful lot like a hate crime to me.
omg…poor kid
I’m wondering about those people who ‘like’ this post. This makes me sick.
Let the bastards get what they deserve.
Awh. That poor kid. <3 fucking assholes.
i know people like this….its how they’re raised and who they’re around and then their parents or gaurdians wonder how they can commit a crime like this or worse….well look who’s teaching them to hate
Hope they get their just desserts
We must not be too harsh on these five. I think a lenient sentence of 75 yrs without parole is about right.
thnx charles & brett
they’re all gonna be someone elses *bitch* in prison good look u guys are fucked (no pun intended)
they are gonna get fucked so hard in prison lol seriously
R E S P E C T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!