So for me, it’s like, yes, it was a hate crime,” Chalarca said. He was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center for treatment.Ĭhalarca and Lugonov believe they were targeted because they are gay.
A bystander who saw the attack and tried to intervene was pushed to the ground and suffered a cut to the back of his head. Police said the couple suffered cuts and bruises on their faces and were treated by paramedics at the scene.
Boyfriends Rene Chalarca and Dimitri Lugonov told police they were savagely attacked by a group of men after they shared a hug while waiting to use a restroom at Lumus Park in the 500 block of Ocean Drive during Miami Beach’s Gay Pride parade, reports WPLG-TV.Īccording to the police report, one of the attackers yelled a homophobic slur in Spanish before hitting them several times.
