Police are investigating a
hate-motivated attack that left a gay couple unconscious on an Oregon
beach.
The men, both 22, were on vacation from
Washington state where they attend nursing school, KATU a Portland
ABC affiliate reports.
The incident occurred late Saturday
night after the men separated from a campfire on a Seaside (pop.
5,900) beach. The attackers, described as three or four young white
men, asked if they were gay and proceeded to beat them up.
“All of the sudden, someone asked if
we're gay, called us 'fags', then started punching us,” one of the
victims identified as Samson (pictured on left) said.
The attack left the men unconscious on
the beach late Saturday.
Seaside police logs show they responded
to a call at about 1:45AM Sunday morning after the two men stumbled
to a nearby Best Western hotel seeking help. Officer Jeff Oja is
listed as responding to the incident.
“It's upsetting to know that people
can be so angry,” said Samson. “We're easy-going people, and
we're just having a good time and meeting new friends. Some people
can be so malicious and narrow-minded.”
The second man, Kevin, has medical
insurance, but Samson, who suffered a severe eye injury, does not.
Police say they would like to question
some of the people at the campfire.