Chattanooga man says he was attacked becuse he’s openly gay

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee(WDEF) – Police are investigating a vicious beating of a 19-year old because he was gay.

Terrance Eberhardt said he was not only targeted but beaten by four men because he is openly gay.

“While the guys were beating me, they were calling me names like gay and faggot,” Eberhardt said.

He says one of the men is known as Monte.

“He was the one who hit me with a gun,” Eberhardt said.

The incident happened earlier this week outside the East Chattanooga Recreation Center.

“Monte pulled a gun, cocked it back then he told his friends to search me. They searched me then all of a sudden Monte hit me with the gun and I fell to the ground. That’s when they all jumped me,” Eberhardt said.

When it was all said and done, Eberhardt was left with a shattered jaw that left his bottom jaw in two pieces.  On Wednesday, doctors wired his mouth shut and it will remain wired for up to six weeks.

WDEF also spoke to Kylia Bailey who witnessed the attack.

“I saw all the action. Monte pulled the gun out on my friend. He told his homeboys to check his pockets.  Then Monte hits Terrance with the gun and all of them started to jump on top of him. They all had guns and there was nothing he could do,” she said.

The victim’s mother, Sherrie Houston, also talked to WDEF while trying to hold back tears as her son held her tight.

“The first thing that came to my mind was the death of my oldest child. Then fear just kicked in and I thought about him being disfigured.  It had me so afraid to see him,” Houston said.

She said that after this recent attack, she fears for his life.

“I know my child is gay but that does not give a person the right to treat my child the way they did. He is a human being just as they are,” she said.

According to the victim and his friends, the alleged attackers are known gang members.

“This is the first time that I have ever heard about gangs jumping on gay people but who’s to say what they will do now days,” the mother said.

Dangelo Davis is close friend to Eberhardt. He told WDEF that this isn’t the first time gays have been targeted by gang members.

“This isn’t the first attack on a gay person but he is the first one to speak up and I think we need a change. I am urging them to speak out more,” Davis said.

Police arrested three of the four people who were identified. All three suspects will face a charge of aggravated assault as a hate crime.

Thursday evening, WDEF texted the victim and he said other than not being able to talk due to a wired jaw, he’s slowly recovering.