Man Charged With Hate Crime In LGBTQ+ Attack At MGM Casino In Detroit

DETROIT — A 26-year-old Texas man is facing hate crime charges after attacking two same-sex couples at the MGM Grand Detroit hotel and casino last week, according to prosecutors.

The incident happened at 1 a.m. on July 13 in the MGM's valet area where the 29-year-old woman and her 29-year-old wife, and a 27-year-old man and his 30-year-old partner were attacked, according to prosecutors.

Chelsi Way told WXYZ that she and her wife, Celia Haueter, and another LGBTQ+ couple were attending a concert in Detroit and got a valet at MGM Grand.

While waiting for their car, they were approached by two men, Way told the news station.

"Celia was like 'why don't you just leave us alone. Leave us the F alone.' And that's when he hit her [Haueter] the first time and she fell. She was trying to get back up and that's when he hit her again," Way told the news station.

Haueter told CBS Detroit that she was knocked unconscious for a few minutes and needed more than 20 stitches.

Both couples are expected to be ok, but they believe MGM should own some responsibility. They said they asked for security's help, but no one assisted them.

MGM directed questions to the Detroit Police Department.

William James Wilson, of Fort Worth, Texas, was charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm, aggravated assault, two counts of assault and battery and four counts of hate crime using force or physical injury. He was placed in jail with a $100,000 bond. His next court date is scheduled for Aug. 24.

If convicted, each hate crime count carries a maximum penalty of five years.