“Working through this has been a roller coaster,” says Rick Jones, a 22-year-old Utah native who was robbed on the evening of Saturday, April 25. According to Jones, the culprit tried to make him drink bleach, knocked him unconscious, and carved the words “Die Fag” into his arms.
The 22-year-old owner of Grand Central Pizzeria and Grille in Delta, Utah, was closing up shop for the night when an unknown assailant grabbed him by the head and slammed him against the wall. “I remember waking up and I was lying on the floor,” he says. “Somebody was on my chest and legs and they were trying to force me to drink bleach.”
He returned to consciousness with a concussion and found that medical teams were already attending to his wounds. $1,300 had been stolen from the premises. Released by the hospital the next morning, Jones returned home to find the words “Die Fag” spray-painted on the garage door of his family home. Later that week, a Molotov cocktail was hurtled through Jones’ bedroom window. He put out the flames with a fire extinguisher before too much (physical) damage was done, only to find more graffiti spray-painted on the facade of his house: “You’ll Die. Burn Fag.”
As far as naming possible suspects, Jones — whose pizzeria continues to be plagued with bouts of vandalism and theft — is completely at a loss. Millard County police are similarly stumped, since Jones and his family are popular members of the community with no obvious enemies. The Utah Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone with info that leads to the successful apprehension and prosecution of the perpetrators of the attack. Anyone with information should contact Lt. Morris Burton of the Millard County Sheriff’s Office at (435) 864-2755.
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Allan O'Shea
This is so disturbing! Can’t believe others could be this cruel and evil.
Desert Boy
Too bad Rick Jones wasn’t armed. Had he been carrying a legal, licensed firearm, the outcome of his ordeal would have been different. I hope now, he arms himself.
Clark35
I hope he’s OK.
Cam
Why does the headline say he was “Allegedly” knocked out? If medical teams were working on him when he regained consciousness then him being out wasn’t alleged.
Dave Lord Nottingham Hansen
It should be noted that the citizens of his town are bewildered and upset about this and are sticking up for him. Some Utahns are crazy, violent bigots but most are not.
Kamuriie
He wasn’t “allegedly” knocked out. He was knocked out.
FYI, journalists only use “allegedly” to describe *perpetrators*, not victimization. John Smith may be the alleged bank robber, but the bank was definitely robbed. You’re casting suspicion and doubt on a victim without a good reason.
Merv
Considering what is being claimed, and the similarity to recent hate crime hoaxes, allegedly is the responsible way to characterize it.
http://www.queerty.com/charlie-rogers-faked-hate-crime-20120822
Cam
@Merv:
Not when medical staff had to revive him. Then there was nothing “Alleged” about his being out.
Merv
@Cam: Unconsciousness can be faked. Even if the injuries are real, there is precedent for concocting hoaxes after the fact.
http://www.queerty.com/cried-wolf-montana-man-admits-he-faked-his-own-gay-bashing-20120808
UltimateSin
I read about this days ago, why am I just finding out about it on here now?
Ernest Friend Benavente Jr.
Horrible.
Stache99
@Desert Boy: Just once I’d like to hear a story like Bernhard Goetz. I wouldn’t care if he shot him in the back on their way out either.
NoCagada
Probably just some “good christians” expressing their religious beliefs
Giancarlo85
Oh that’s a good one. Get a gun. Then get jumped and get shot with your own gun. Brilliant. Arming yourself doesn’t solve a damn thing. Police needs to conduct an actual investigation and find out who did it.
@Merv: I don’t think this one is faked.
Desert Boy
@Stache99: I agree.
stranded
22 years old and owns his own business, god damn. Good for him. He should invest in some serious security systems for both his home and business and not close by himself.
Carol Mathis
I can believe people are that cruel and evil but who ever did that said that you know the saying what goes on in the dark comes to the light they will pay
QJ201
This isn’t a hate crime, this is domestic terrorism
Realitycheck
@Allan O’Shea:
So true it is disturbing, why are people so mean?
I hope the guy is going to invest few pennies in a surveillance camera.
Meanwhile, and I hope queerty reports this,
the attacker at BBQ Dallas in Chelsea NY has surrender and
his version of the facts as stated has already been disproven
by the video of the attack.
He has been charged with assault and attempted assault, I am guessing
more charges will follow as, “leaving the scene of a crime” and probably
resisting arrest since he fled the state.
Realitycheck
@Giancarlo85:
True, the CNN video show the horrible scars on his arms,
there is nothing fake about this, I really hope they catch the attacker.
@stranded:
And he is cute!!! 🙂
JessPH
If you’re a businessowner, you should seriously invest in some close circuit television. And if you’re gay, arm yourself!
1EqualityUSA
It must be really important to some haters to intimidate others into being disingenuous liars for life. What’s the point?
Giancarlo85
Arming yourself? Oh yes, guns always solve problems don’t they?
sdterp
@Desert Boy: Yes, very valid point. So, should he have shot them as he lie there, unconscious or as they were pouring bleach down his throat or as they were carving into his arms?
sdterp
But sadly, it’s all moot. Jones admitted that the attacks were self inflicted:
http://fox13now.com/2015/06/30/delta-anti-gay-hate-crime-was-a-cry-for-help-lawyer-says/
sdterp
@Giancarlo85: That was my take on the comment. SMH