News (USA)

GWU attacker charged with ‘hate crime’ on straight man he thought was gay

GWU attacker charged with ‘hate crime’ on straight man he thought was gay

WASHINGTON — A heterosexual student at George Washington University was beaten to within inches of his life earlier this week, after another heterosexual student mistook him for being gay.

Police have arrested Ross Richardson, a GWU senior, and he has been charged with a hate crime.

The GW Hatchet reports:

Metropolitan Police Department officers arrested senior Ross Richardson early Sunday morning in Ivory Tower [residential hall], after he kicked and punched a fellow senior while saying “you fucking fag,” according to court documents.

The victim was transported to GW Hospital with significant head trauma, including bleeding in his brain.

The incident is classified as a hate crime, or a crime directed at an individual based upon prejudice or bias, according to the documents. The victim – whose name is being withheld due to a Hatchet policy of not naming assault victims – said he never met Richardson prior to the assault.

One witness saw Richardson kick the victim in the stomach several times while the victim was on the ground, according to police documents. Another witness saw Richardson push the victim against a wall while punching him and calling him “fag” and “motherfucker” multiple times.

The Ivory Tower co-ed student residence hall is home to more than 700 GWU students.

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