Four Marines Arrested for Assaulting Gay Man

Police in Long Beach, California have arrested four Marine Corps members who attacked a young gay man outside the Silver Fox, a popular local gay bar, around 2 a.m. on Sept. 3, according to Tracy Manzer of the Press Telegram. Nancy Pratt, a Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman, told Manzer that
"Based on the preliminary investigation, it was determined that an assault had occurred to a man by several male suspects after they had left the establishment." Two men who reportedly came to the aid of the victim were also assaulted.

The attack reportedly happened as the bar was closing. Pratt also told the Press Telegram that the detectives are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime attack and will present their findings to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office today.

The names of the suspects and the victim have been withheld pending investigation. The Marines are expected to also do an investigation of the attack, though no official statement has been forthcoming so far.