Police are searching for a man wanted in connection with a violent homophobic attack after he was videod hitting a gay man.
Salt Lake City's KUTV reports that the man is seen asking the victim:
Are you gay though?
The victim, Sal Trejo, replies:
Oh, I am.
The suspect responds:
Oh then you're gay?
As Trejo tries to answer, the suspect starts to hit him.
Due to the shocking and distressing nature of the footage, the video quickly went viral on Twitter.
My friends and I were assaulted by this homophobic man in downtown Salt Lake City last night. Anyone know him? The… https://t.co/OyOQbKR5F6— Sal Trejo (@Sal Trejo) 1550447422
Trejo told KUTV that the attack happened just before 2am. He said the man walked up and started making misogynistic and homophobic comments to him and his friends. After becoming concerned with his agressive behaviour, they began to video him.
The perpetrator was clearly drunk and began punching Trejo in the arm. Shockingly, he then reportedly pulled a knife on another member of his group and pushed one of his female friends. The man then stepped into a black BMW and drove away erratically, given he appeared to be under the influence.
https://t.co/Q4yKVGC5u8— Sal Trejo (@Sal Trejo) 1550447441
Twitter users were full of support for Trejo and the rest of his group after the harrowing encounter.
@saltrejo @slcpd @slcmayor @EqualityUtah oh my gosh I hope they find him soon. this is incredibly jarring and hard… https://t.co/HlF9A5Sljt— heather (@heather) 1550447970
@saltrejo @slcpd @slcmayor @EqualityUtah I am so, so sorry this happened to you, however filming it and sharing it,… https://t.co/mGwVNO7gHs— Dan Ellis (@Dan Ellis) 1550460561
@saltrejo @slcpd @slcmayor @EqualityUtah Wow, I'm so sorry this happened to you and your friends. I hope they find… https://t.co/VyNKuk1fMh— Alex Jay Lore / AKA Alex Harrow (he/him) (@Alex Jay Lore / AKA Alex Harrow (he/him)) 1550463570
@saltrejo @slcpd @slcmayor @EqualityUtah That’s so awful I hope you’re ok!— 🕯𝕳𝖊𝖆𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗 𝕸𝖆𝖍𝖑𝖊𝖗🕯 (@🕯𝕳𝖊𝖆𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗 𝕸𝖆𝖍𝖑𝖊𝖗🕯) 1550452656
H/T: CBS News