Micky Joe Smith, 25, has been arrested for his part in the brutal attack last weekend on gay man Burke Burnett in Reno Texas. Smith joins James “Tray” Mitchell, 31, and Daniel Martin, 33, whom we reported had already been arrested for their part in the assault. The three men stand accused of attacking Burnett at a party late Saturday night, when he was punched, repeatedly stabbed and thrown onto a lit trashcan. (An alleged fourth attacker has yet to be accounted for.)
The charges facing them—aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury—are second-degree felonies but could be compounded with hate-crime charges, depending on the decision of a grand jury. If so, they would become first-degree felonies and the men could face anywhere from 5 to 99 years in prison.
In the clip above, Burnett discusses the attack and says he’s focusing on recovering from his wounds, not what punishment his assailants should receive. “I haven’t prayed enough… to know exactly what I want done to these people. But it’s not my job to decide what justice for these guys is,” he said.
We have a few ideas on that front, Burke.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Kamuriie
My heart goes out to Burke. Get better soon! And don’t let those assholes make you afraid to have friends. There are good people out there, and these guys will get what’s coming to them.
ewe
I certainly hope it goes to a jury and not some bigoted judge. Sounds like this victim is all alone even in his recovery. But i can tell that they picked on the wrong gay person because Burke Burnett obviously accepts and loves himself as a gay man and is going to show up and confront the hate he encountered. He has already won 99% because of that alone. Wow. What strength he has. I admire him tremendously.
Geoff
Correct me if I’m dumb but wouldn’t being stabbed repeatedly warrant attempted murder instead of aggravated assault. Where I live an illegal just stabbed a woman to death in a Walmart parking lot. These people need to have examples made out of them before they get out and kill again.
Jewed Law
@Geoff: You’re exactly right: Why no attempted murder charge? This poor guy will live with this forever, and these clowns will likely do less than a year.
xander
Agreed with Geoff that attempted murder would be a more approp. charge unless Texarse has some backwards definition of the word. From what all I’ve read, pursuing ‘hate crimes’ in that state doesn’t always work out well.
I so hope the local Q community stands up to help Mr Burnett as he recovers from this vicious attack.
TASTEY GOODIES
OUR PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS GO TO BURKE BURNETT. HE IS MORE COMPASSIONATE THAN MOST AND I DO HOPE THAT THOSE HOMOPHOBES GET THEIR JUST DESSERTS AND RECEIVE THE MAX FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER. THIS AGRESSION WILL NOT STAND , MAN. I AM SOOOOOO SICK OF PUSSY, DUMB MOFO’S AFRAID ANOTHER’S SEXUALITY AND POSSIBLY THEIR OWN INTERNALIZED GAY FEELINGS. JUST GROW A PAIR AND LEARN 2 ACCEPT YOURSELF IF YOU ARE CLOSETED GAY PERSON AND NOT TAKE OUT A PERSON THAT OBVIOUSLY IS A MIRROR IMAGE OF WHAT YOU ARE- ON THE INSIDE. LEARN 2 LOVE AND ACCEPT YOURSELF. THEN U CAN BE LOVING TOWARD OTHERS. LOVE AND PEACE.XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX’S!!!