Man arrested for allegedly stabbing gay couple outside Denver nightclub
Couple says they were holding hands when their assailant attacked them with a folding knife
Denver police have arrested a 24-year-old man on charges of first-degree assault for allegedly attacking a gay couple with a folding knife outside a nightclub on Sunday morning, reports the Denver Post.
Dylan Payne is accused of stabbing 19-year-old Christopher Huizar and his 23-year-old boyfriend, Gabriel Roman, outside The Church nightclub around 1 a.m.
Huizar and Roman say they were walking together and holding hands when a third man came out of nowhere and began yelling at them.
“We were simply holding hands when a white male yells ‘fucken faggots’ and comes running up behind and stabbed me in the neck,” Huizar writes on a GoFundMe page he started to help pay for medical expenses.
Huizar suffered a deep wound just above his collarbone, and Roman suffered multiple lacerations to his hand and his back. Both men’s injuries have been deemed non-life-threatening.
The two men ran from the assailant, eventually collapsing in a nearby 7-11 parking lot, reports Raw Story. Bystanders called 911 and paramedics and police responded to the scene.
A friend of the couple’s posted a video of their injuries to Facebook.
The Denver Police Department is investigating whether the attack was bias-motivated. If prosecutors choose to pursue bias enhancements to the assault charge, Payne could face additional time or harsher penalties, should he be found guilty.
The couple told local FOX affiliate KDVR that the incident has had a great emotional impact on them.
“Of course, we’re relieved this guy is caught or whatever,” said Roman, “but there’s still that fright, I guess you could say to who else is out there like that?
“It’s not going to stop me from being who I am or showing affection to my significant other, he added, “but I will definitely be more cautious.”
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