Gay Couple Brutally Attacked with Baseball Bat in Possible Homophobic Hate Crime By Christina Coulter

A gay couple was brutally attacked in Boston’s Mattapan neighborhood earlier this month — with one man struck in the head with a baseball bat — and police are investigating the assault as a possible hate crime.

The couple told police they were walking near 550 River Street around 7:45 p.m. on Sept. 13, when a group of men “began making anti-homosexual remarks towards them.”

A confrontation followed, and “two… were seen swinging unidentifiable objects at the victims,” according to a police report reviewed by Boston.com, WCVB and CBS Boston.

Officers found one victim lying in a parking lot bleeding from the back of his head; he was treated at the scene and taken to the hospital for further evaluation, per CBS Boston, NBC Boston and WCVB. His current condition has not been released. 

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Boston police said the department’s Civil Rights Unit is leading the investigation. No arrests had been announced as of Monday, according to NBC Boston, CBS Boston and WHDH. 

“We’re just generally concerned about the hostile political moment that we’re in right now and the increased fear that many people in our community are experiencing,” said Josh Rovenger, legal director at GLAD Law, told NBC Boston. 

Anyone with information can contact Boston detectives; anonymous tips can be shared via Boston Police CrimeStoppers at 1-800-494-TIPS or by texting TIP to CRIME (27463).