PHOENIX — An altercation outside a Phoenix record store escalated into a hit and run that was caught on camera, and the victim says the incident all started with a gay slur.
Justin French, 24, says a group of individuals called him a gay slur as he exited a local music store, which led to a physical fight, and Finch admits he slammed one of the guys in the group to the ground, reports KSAZ-TV.
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But those in the other group say Finch isn’t the victim.
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“I turned around to walk outside and he assaulted me, he picked me up and I started defending myself,” said 16-year-old Orlando Munoz, who was one of the people inside the car. He was with his uncle and his uncle’s girlfriend, who he says was driving.
Munoz’s mother, Yvette, who said she is gay, says her son never used a gay slur and this was no hate crime.
Police release everyone as no one wanted to press charges, but the case has been forwarded to the Phoenix unit that investigates hate crimes.
Finch said he wants the people in the car to face charges.
