Missouri teenager charged over anti-gay park attack arranged through dating app
Police say an 18-year-old Missouri man arranged an attack on a man he met through a dating app, then made anti-gay remarks as four others assaulted him at a park. The case has led to charges including an offence described by authorities as property damage motivated by discrimination.
The attack was reported at Bluebird Park, near St Louis, at about 2.20am. Police say the victim was punched, threatened and asked for his keys and belongings before escaping to his car; his $1,200 iPhone was later recovered damaged. The suspect was arrested after surveillance footage and a photo identification, while the other men have not been identified and the victim’s injuries are unclear.
In short
- Police allege an 18-year-old arranged an attack through a dating app.
- Four men allegedly beat and threatened the victim at a park.
- The suspect faces assault and discrimination-motivated property damage charges.
Explained simply
Dating apps allow people to meet and arrange dates, but they can also be used to set up a meeting under false pretences. When an attack targets someone because of their sexual orientation, it may be treated as a hate crime, bringing additional charges or penalties under the law.
In this case, police say an 18-year-old arranged to meet a man at a park near St Louis, where four other people joined the assault. The case involves the suspect, the victim and the unidentified people alleged to have taken part; the charges are allegations, and the accused is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Midwest teen lured man to park through dating app, then screamed ‘I actually hate gay people’ and got mob to beat him up, cops say”.