A Washington, D.C., man was gang raped at gunpoint by nearly half a dozen men, the Washington Blade reports.
The horrifying episode happened in the Columbia Heights neighborhood last week. The victim, whose name and age has not been released, was apparently walking by himself when a white van pulled up beside him. A gunman jumped out and forced him into the back.
Related: Philadelphia Tourist Raped At Gunpoint During Grindr Hookup
According to police, as many as seven other men were waiting inside the van. They “drove [the victim] around” for a while before “Suspect 1 through Suspect 5 anally sexually assaulted him against his will and without his consent.”
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According to police, the suspects ranged in age, from 17 to 27 years old. The victim could only describe the gunman who initially approached him: Hispanic, around 6’1, between 22 and 27 years old, with a slim build and short black curly hair.
This is the second time in less than a year that an adult male has been gang raped by a group of men in the area. Last December, a 52-year-old man was walking alone when a gang of armed men kidnapped him and raped him at another location.
Related: London Man Shares Harrowing Account Of Being Raped And How It Changed His Life
Todd Hef Klein
I beleive I’ve seen that movie a few times.
Colin Thompson
Absolutely shocking !!!
We all need to be careful out there …..
Peter McKinney
Why is this on Queerty if the victim is not identified as gay?
Andrew Button
They are evil scum who needs catching
Richard Neely
I realize it’s good to have a great sense of humor and even a warped one, however this is a man’s life that will never be the same. Sexual assault really isn’t a joking matter.
Opine2
Why do so many gay men see this as some sort of fantasy? More like a nightmare!
Chico
Horrifying! I hope these pukes are caught and brought to justice. I hope the victim(s) get the help and support they need.
gskorich
I’m sorry but I need more. was a rape kit performed? did the perps use condoms? was there fluids left behind. seems kind of odd that a group of men are traveling around the city looking to rape other men. the victim must of known at least one of these guys and probably set up some sort of scenario.
Chico
@Richard Neely: I totally agree with you. as a rape survivor, I find jokes about rape to be completely unfunny, and in some cases they’ve been triggers. The fantasy of being raped has always intrigued me because it really isn’t an experience that is ‘hot’ or ‘exciting.’
Ladbrook
Probably a safe bet that the perps are not gay. I’ve no idea what the sexual orientation is of the victim, nor should it matter one bit. Gay or straight, male or female, no one asks for this. Assuming the men are one day caught, life in prison without parole is the only logical outcome.
Ladbrook
@gskorich: Gee, maybe we should also ask if he was wearing a short skirt, too. I mean, you know, he was “walking alone” so clearly he was asking for it, right? Asshole.
Chico
@gskorich: while I understand the doubt in the age of social media and how easy it is to lie, I must say it is comments like yours that give victims second thought to coming forward. the details you seek are not details necessary for the general public to know. I’m sure the investigators have these details and maybe more. And it startles me that ‘lack of detail’ leads you (and undoubtedly others) to assume that the victim staged it. This is why male rapes are so drastically under reported!
TampaBayTed
Rape is not a joking matter. The very act of forceful anal penetration can produce severe medical consequences.
Stephen Taylor
Stephanie Downing Withrow
andy_d
@Peter McKinney: Because:
1. Rape is rape regardless of sexual orientation;
2. Posting the article may save a gay man from, experiencing this;
3. By posting this on Qweerty gay men in DC may be able to warn their straight male friends.
tdh1980
That this comment thread started out with jokes is appalling. Rape isn’t funny, sexy, or erotic, no matter how it’s depicted in porn.
Christopher Hayward
Rape is never a joking matter.
Julie Bunn
Well that wont get straight white men to give up their guns….they will lock n load.
GayEGO
The perpetrators are committing a violent action against a male victim which sounds more like a homophobic action. All of the gay people I have met over the last 55 years have never committed this kind of violence.
gskorich
@Chico: that’s the thing. there isn’t enough information to determine if a crime was committed. people tend to believe everything they read without getting all the facts.
gskorich
@Ladbrook: once the facts are printed I think you can make a better determination of to what actually happened. men traveling though a city raping other men in the back of a van? really? like I said facts please. was there a rape kit performed?
Spike
Motive? There is more to this story then being reported.
ric
No rape is not funny. Back in the 90’s A guy kicked in my door and attempted to rape me. What saved me is his brother came downstairs.
Amaurys Arias
If this was a woman, people would not be making tasteless joke
Brian Mclellan
People that make fun of it or have some sort of sick fantasy about being raped have never experienced it….it changes everything about you, trust me.
billjones
Rape is no laughing matter – unless you’re raping a clown.
Aromaeus
How did he peg the age ranges? I mean what significant difference is there between someone whose 27 and whose 28 or 27 and 30?
Nicola Meniconi
People are fuckin disgusting
Daggerman
..Crikey, did they all ejaculate when inside the victim? I don’t know if this is an actual true event? Any proof?
Tommy Ogletree
This is really scary.
Jim DelRae
Another reason you need to know how to protect yourself.
Carrying your own weapon is a good start.
notevenwrong
How was the 17-27 age range determined if the victim could only describe one perpetrator? What is different between 27 and 28?
Chris
This is horrific. I hope the victim’s receiving the counseling and medical treatment that he needs. And also, I hope they catch and convict the perps.
GnL14
@gskorich:
I hear your shovel just dig-dig-digging away. The only way out of this particular hole is with the submission of a sincere apology for your apparent insensitivity.
If not, you look like a jerk. People do lie, but unless you’re inspector clouseau AND ASSIGNED TO INVESTIGATE, comments should be sympathetic.
gskorich
@GnL14: LOL. I have nothing to dig out of. we aren’t sure this actually happened. save your judgements
Cam
How could the police put down no injuries before there was an exam or rape kit????
GnL14
@gskorich:
I am sure, because the man says he was the victim of this terrible crime.
Okay, I warned you. Go on and put on that houndstooth hat and get out your big ol magnifying glass and offer your undoubtedly impeccable services to the police agency investigating. Maybe you will break the case.
redcarpet30
I’m surprised you could get 6 (6!) people to agree and coordinate to do something like this together. This took planning and consensus.
startenout
@gskorich: I always love that the people doing the judging are the ones who don’t want to be judged. If you need more facts, why don’t you search them up yourself or go to The Washington Blade they listed and read their article. You decided that from just reading that a man was held at gunpoint and gang taped that he set it up as a sex game himself. If that isn’t a judgement with no actual supporting facts, then what is? Rape victims, especially male victims, stay closeted just because of people like you who tell them that it couldn’t have happened. Shame on you. SMGDH
gskorich
@GnL14: you should save the soapbox until you know there was actually a crime b
gskorich
@startenout: I sinply stated a fact. there is too much messing from this story to say there was a actual crime. wait for facts before you make your call. now on your other issue. yes rape is a horrible thing WHEN it is committed. we don’t know there was a crime committed here
Ricky Melendrez
Nick Davis
Clark35
I doubt that this actually really happened.
Now if the victim was a woman I could see it easily happening as it does happen a lot.
I do know some bisexual and gay men who have the “gang rape” fantasy which I do not understand?
aliengod
@Peter McKinney: Why is this on Queerty? Perhaps because there’s a gang of gay serial rapists on the loose in DC.
theoneandonlygregoryd
I don’t understand ‘rape fantasy’ – I’m a victim of sexual assault – I never reported it.
Doubting and not believeing or accusing the person of acting out a fantasy – that is just wrong. Why didn’t I report – because no one would believe me, or would say oh you just drank too much – you didn’t get ruffied.
Brian K Combs
Must of been republicans, seems ther always screwing up in Washington
Bill Mountrey
Sounds like another party at Denny Hastert’s.
Gerald GeeLocke Panuthos
“Hell is Empty! All the Devils are Here!” – William Shakespeare
gskorich
@lykeitiz: thank you. I believe rape does happen but this story is abit sensational to be true. more facts.
Blackceo
The fact that there are jokes about this is pretty disgusting. There are some survivors of rape who have already commented and Im a survivor as well, and I just wish people would be a little more sensitive when topics like this are on here. Male victims of sexual assault are much more common than people realize and this is not the place for your rape fantasy comments to be discussed.
This is a pretty traumatic story. I’m glad that the victim did report the assault because many don’t. I used to frequent Columbia Heights quite a bit before it got taken over by freaking hipsters and overall its a decent, diverse area, but there has been an uptick in violent crime. I love their Farmer’s Market. Wouldn’t expect something like this to happen there but no neighborhood is free from acts of violence like this. Hope they catch the perps.
notevenwrong
@rpmucb, I said the same thing about the image and it was also deleted, at least the first time.
Jose Ruiz
IDGAF if it’s not a joking matter that’s what I like damn it
Milton Appleby
The grown men on this board using humor need to acknowledge that rape is a violent act. Some of the disturbing things being said on this board really are disgusting. I hope those individuals never have to experience any form of violence.
youarekiddingme
Let’s see, you “report” that your house got broken into…prove it. Your car was stolen…prove it. Someone vandalized your property and painted anti-gay slurs all over your house and car…prove it. Doesn’t sound quite as appealing when someone puts it that way does it? I think the police/investigators will investigate the rape “report” like they would any other report. I think that since this has already occured in the area (last December a 52-year old man was gang raped) there tends to be some validity to this report.
Just like all reports that come out on “the blotter” every night/week from the police department, the details of the case are NEVER disclosed at the time the report is taken. You don’t want to give away your cards to the bad guys do you?
youarekiddingme
Just FYI, there is more information on the incident if you go to the Washington Blade Newspaper and the Washington D.C. Police Department has made a copy of the police report available for the public (for those of you looking for “more” information).
Richie Eldridge
Lucky SOB
calabrazy55
They were probably illegals
calabrazy55
you ever notice that the suspects are never white? JS
PattyJM
@rpmucb: Two clicks on Bing showed that this a true event. At least was reported on by several newspapers and TV networks.
http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/29691259/man-sexually-assaulted-in-dc
Billy Budd
Life in prison is the only possible punishment for this crime.
David Caldwell
I can’t believe some of the “lucky guy” comments from my fellow gay brothers here. Trust me, it’s no joking matter when you’re lying in a hospital bed after being raped by 5 guys in hoodies, with your rectum tissue just sewn back up…with 3 fractured ribs, a black eye, shoe imprints on your back, and bleeding rope burns on your ankles and wrists from being tied up. Yeah, that happened to me 4 years ago when I was 43. Can’t believe rationally thinking people would make such discussing jokes about it! PTSD, yes, but I refuse to let victimization rule the rest of my life. Rape is NOT a joking matter…and gender should never be singled out as to the severity of this crime!
Maggie Wastell
Why is there a smirk on this mans face? I am thoroughly disgusted with it.
Kevin Hurst
It sounds fishy to me. What 7 gay men are going to rape someone?? And 7 straight men??
David Amarualik
Sounds fun
Realitycheck
@Daggerman: They must have, otherwise the police wouldn’t have taken this seriously.
jwtraveler
@calabrazy55: You’re probably an asshole. Ever notice that bigots and r@cists like you are never intelligent?
Jacob23
By running this as a gay news story, Queerty is buying into the lie that male-on-male sexual assault is perpetrated by gays. It’s not. The vast majority of male-on-male rape and sexual assault is perpetrated by heterosexual men. They do it as a way to destroy the manhood of the victim. In prison, for example, if a man is penetrated, he suffers a permanent loss in status. He can’t get it back. So rape is seen as a potent weapon to use against an adversary. There’s no homosexual attraction involved.
It is bad enough when Queerty runs these stories when they do involve gays, but why on Earth would it run them when there’s no evidence of any gay involvement?
Ladbrook
@David Caldwell: Good God. God bless you for disclosing that and for sharing how you have worked to overcome it. I’d be living in my parents’ attic if that had happened to me. I wish you all the best.
Ladbrook
@Richie Eldridge: Well here’s a thought.
Since you’re so envious of this victim’s experience, how ’bout you post your name and address here (and elsewhere) with the hope that this van full of vicious animals will know where to go the next time they feel the need to destroy someone’s life.
I’ll even help by dropping off your info at the local jail. I’m sure some of our soon-to-released gangbangers would love to get their hands on a willing piece of ass like yours.
And don’t forget to provide your jogging/dog-walking schedules and routes. That kind of info is typically very useful to kidnap, assault, and brutally rape other human beings.
DonW
@David Caldwell: I am so very sorry for what you went through. I apologize for the ignorant and insensitive remarks some have made on this topic. Can’t we try to have some empathy for another person’s suffering, especially a fellow gay man? Why are we so godd*amn mean to each other?
Another topic that gets joked about constantly in these comments is prison rape. Some Queerty readers seem to think that bad guys they especially dislike (gay bashers, say) deserve to be raped in prison. It’s not a laughing matter. Victims of prison rape tend to be young and non-violent inmates, especially gays. Punishment for crimes should be determined by the justice system, not by vigilante gangs.
McShane
This thread is proof that we need a moderator. Flagging doesn’t work.
Graham? What is the point of leaving some of these rancid comments? Clean this sh!t up. Good god, man.
Merv
@gskorich: You are absolutely correct that we should be skeptical.
As for rape jokes never being appropriate, neither are sweeping statements. One podcast I listen to is hosted by a comedian who was repeatedly victimized by an uncle when he was a child. Jokes about that experience are one of the ways he copes with it.
lykeitiz
@McShane: A moderator from Queerty? Good luck. I left a comment criticizing Queerty’s lack of editing (and everything that goes with editing), and it was deleted. If you scroll up, you’ll see someone replied to me, but you won’t see my original comment. Queerty’s idea of moderating is to delete any criticism aimed at them……….period.
McShane
Yeah, I know. It just sucks. A few commenters poured their heart and soul out for everyone, and they still have to wade through the Internets version of flotsam and jetsam.
You would think that the topic of rape on a site like this would require careful moderation. Let people say whatever they want about what kind of swimwear they think looks stupid. But the topic of rape? No, in my opinion that needs someone to read every comment and take out the trash.
andy0529
In that area of town….Highly doubtful It would be kidnapping someone in the middle of Times Square….and no one seeing it.
rickhfx
Where the victim’s anal virgins? That must have hurt. I guess they tested for the 7 different sperms. How did the rapists know the victims were all srt8?
Bentover42
Lucky sob.i wish they would have raped me.lol