Gay Pride Attack Being Prosecuted As Hate Crime

MIAMI BEACH, FL — The four men arrested in connection with last month's brutal assault of an openly gay couple and the Good Samaritan who rose to their defense, will now face enhanced criminal penalties under Florida's hate crime law. The attack occurred in the final hours of the Miami Beach Gay Pride festival along iconic Ocean Drive. Miami Beach police charged the four with aggravated battery.

"The state has now filed enhanced charges as well as additional charges for two defendants. For all four defendants on two of the counts of aggravated battery, we have filed aggravated battery, great bodily harm with prejudice which now raises those to first-degree felonies," a Miami-Dade prosecutor told a Miami judge during a court proceeding on Wednesday.

The four charged in the beating include 21-year-old Juan C. Lopez, 20-year-old Luis M. Alonso, 21-year-old Adonis Diaz and 21-year-old Pablo Reinaldo Romo.

The decision to apply enhanced penalties was made by the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office. All four men surrendered to Miami Beach police after surveillance images of them were shown by news organizations throughout the Miami area.

"We are working closely with the Miami-Dade SAO to ensure the successful prosecution of this horrible crime," Ernesto Rodriguez of the Miami Beach Police Department told Patch Thursday.

Under Florida law, the penalty for any felony or misdemeanor can be reclassified to a higher level if the "commission of such felony or misdemeanor evidences prejudice based on the race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, homeless status, or advanced age of the victim." The law states that A second-degree felony would become a first-degree felony under the charging guidelines. In this case all four defendants were initially charged with three counts of aggravated battery, which was listed as a second-degree felony.

"All charging decisions are always based on the evidence provided by the police and by witnesses after they both have been interviewed by prosecutors," Ed Griffith of the State Attorney's Office told Patch when the initial charges were announced. "Those interviews would be a part of the post-arrest process."

The attack came on Sunday, April 8 in what was the final day of the 10th anniversary celebration of the week-long festival. The event drew thousands to Miami Beach for a parade, fireworks display and concert by artist Taylor Dayne.

"The incident took place Sunday evening, after the Miami Beach Pride Parade where two male members of the LGBT community were attacked as well as a third Good Samaritan who tried to help," Rodriguez said earlier.

The incident occurred at 7:40 p.m. outside the public restrooms along 6 Street and Ocean Drive. All three victims are residents of Miami Beach, according to a police report of the incident. One of the victims told police that he could hear the men "repeatedly" call him and his partner a gay slur in Spanish.

The two LGBT victims said they were standing on the north side of the restrooms when they were apparently selected at random by their attackers.

The Anti-Defamation League of Florida has said that the organization was "horrified by this brutal attack" and said that the Miami Beach Gay Pride festival should have been a time for celebration.

"It should never have to be a time for fear," according to organization officials.

Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber and Police Chief Daniel Oates met with members of the city's LGBTQ advisory committee and briefed members on the "hateful attack."

Watch video of the attack below:

Photo and video courtesy Miami Beach Police Department