SPRINGTOWN, Texas — Police in this small Texas town northwest of Fort Worth are investigating a possible hate crime in the brutal attack on a gay man after he arranged to meet another man using a mobile app called MeetMe.
Arron Keahey, 24, said his first contact with the 18-year-old suspect was through the phone app, and went over to the man’s house about an hour later, thinking he was gay or bisexual.
Keahey said he was “ambushed” almost immediately, and the attack left him beaten, bloody and bruised, reported WFAA-TV.
Get the Daily Brief
The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you:
The Labor Day attack left Keahey with broken facial bones that required plastic surgery. He also suffered nerve damage and had some teeth knocked out.
Police say they received a 911 call from 18-year-old Brice Johnson, who told officers he found Keahey outside his house in the trunk of a car.
Police later arrested Johnson and charged him with aggravated assault, causing serious bodily injury.
Watch a report from WFAA-TV:
Texas’ hate crime law includes crimes motivated by a victim’s sexual orientation, but not gender identity.
