Young Gay Business Owner Repeatedly Terrorized in Utah

Rick Jones had "Die Fag" carved into his arms after being knocked to the ground and nearly forced to drink bleach.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

June 14 2015 4:11 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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Rick Jones, a gay business owner in Utah, has seen his home and business robbed and vandalized, and was nearly killed by homophobic robbers.

After taking out the garbage from the Grand Central Pizzeria and Grill in Delta on a recent night, the 22-year-old says he was thrown to the ground, had his arms and legs pinned, and was nearly forced to drink bleach. He woke up in the hospital with "Die Fag" carved on his arms; the criminals had stolen $1,300 from the restaurant.

The next night, Jones's home was vandalized with antigay graffiti. A rock and molotov cocktail were thrown into the Jones home -- no one was hurt -- a month later, and the restaurant was robbed again the same night.

"They painted the words, 'You'll burn' and 'die fag' on the walls," Jones told CNN.

A hate-crime investigation has been launched and Utah's lieutenant governor issued a statement saying, "I was horrified and heart-broken to learn of this cowardly and barbaric assault. The Jones family is an upstanding, well-respected and beloved part of the Delta community. ... This will not stand."