Florida Gay Bashing Victim Craig Cohen Dies 6 Months After Attack
![CraigCohen[1]](http://www.queerty.com/wp/docs/2009/10/CraigCohen1.jpg "CraigCohen[1]")
Craig Cohen, the gay Florida man attacked by four men in April after leaving a diner in Oakland Park outside Ft. Lauderdale, died Wednesday. He was 47. Cohen never regained consciousness after his assailants stamped his head, left him bleeding, and in a coma. Just five minutes after Cohen’s attack, another gay man reported being robbed by a group of men, leading police to initially qualify each as a hate crime. Two suspects, Victor Gonzalez, 21, and Pargu Leandro, 25, were arrested. “Investigators determined Cohen and Villanova were targeted not because they were gay, but because they were alone and vulnerable.”
He’ll be remembered: “Next Thursday, October 15th, friends of Cohen along with members of the Craig Cohen Animal Advocacy Project (CCAAP) and Gay American Heroes will hold a candle light vigil and walk in Wilton Manors beginning at 6:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to participate is asked to meet in the parking lot of Georgie’s Alibi 2266 Wilton Drive.”
Haterosexual cops defending haterosexual killers. Typical. These haterosexual killers drove from Deerfield Beach to Winton Manors to target gay people for attack knowing the area has a large gay population. The robberies were an afterthought.
As someone who lives part time in Tamarac (adjoining Oakland Park), I’m surprised and flabbergasted. I was raised in Tennessee (and live part time there, also), so the homophobia doesn’t surprise me. What does surprise me is that it happened in Oakland Park. Heck, we have a gay mayor in Oakland Park.
I guess that just goes to prove that we shouldn’t let our guard down anywhere, regardless of where we live.
WHAT A CROCK ‘O BULLSHIT..here is copy from newsreport:
“Five minutes after Cohen was attacked and less than two miles away, in the 1500 block of Northeast 4th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, David Villanova was attacked after he left the Sidelines Bar in Wilton Manors on his way to 7-11 store.”
Funny, when you check into Sidelines Bar guess what?? it’s a
GAY bar.
“Investigators determined Cohen and Villanova were targeted not because they were gay, but because they were alone and vulnerable.”
By the “investigators” logic therefore anytime we leave a Gay bar, I guess that means we are “alone and vulernable”
In a bizzare way it may be a blessing in disguise that these sub human scumbags are not linked to this being a Gay hate crime. It seems that Judges in Florida who are fair towards the Gays tend to lose their jobs……………..The only glimmmer of satisfaction one can gain from this is that upon conviction these two pricks, who look very young are going to be on the recieving “end” of a number of attacks in hopefully the many years they spend in prison………
effin’ thugs. I hope they get more than just being the wife of some prison thug. I do hope they go to prison but that probably won’t happen or they’ll get off on probation.
i’m with tinkerbell.
No matter where you are, it’s not truly as safe as you think.
:*(
As a former Sidelines employee, I am saddened by the news. I could go on and on with hateful diatribe over these tax burdens that took the life of a valued community member, but I won’t. I would much rather remember Craig’s life in a positive manner, rather than just being an OBVIOUSLY Gay bashing victim. I knew him well, and he will be missed.
Florida is very bad about letting people get away with this crap.
That’s why I laugh when florida cops die in car accidents.
how can we change Florida’s police force & its mindset? That’s where we have to start… LAPD has done a good job in this regard from what I’ve seen.
I am so saddened for Craig & his loved ones. I hope those subhumans that killed him & attacked David die a horrible death.
@terrwill:
Funny how you can be so aggressive calling them names. How does that make you any different then individuals that do target gays or in fact. Or people who are targeted at all. Maybe you should be an example and show with intelligence and not ignorance. Im not justifying the act But in the COUNTRY we have rights and freedoms . ALL OF US. There is always more to the story and THE NEWS IS ALWAYS WRONG!!!!
don’t ever believe things you read.
I hope justice comes to happen in this case
My prayers to the families and Friends of those involved