'#GotEm:' NYPD Arrests Suspect in Attack on Couple Wed at West Point

Larry-and-daniel-lennox-choate-and-thomas-clabough-x400

The New York City man who picked the wrong couple for an antigay rant now faces hate-crime charges.

Dawn Ennis

The Advocate's news editor Dawn Ennis successfully transitioned from broadcast journalism to online media following another transition that made headlines; in 2013, she became the first trans staffer in any major TV network newsroom. As the first out transgender editor at The Advocate, the native New Yorker continues her 30-year media career, in which she has earned more than a dozen awards, including two Emmys. With the blessing of her three children, Dawn retains the most important job title she's ever held: Dad.

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Dawn Ennis

August 12 2015 2:10 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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Police in New York City say they've arrested a man in connection with the hate-crime attack on the first gay couple to be married at West Point, two graduates of the military school who showed they haven't forgetten their boxing classes.

Thomas Clabough, 57, of Queens was to face a judge Wednesday on charges of assault and attempted assault as a hate crime.

Police say on August 2, the suspect entered a deli on Prince Street in lower Manhattan to buy a beer and saw Daniel and Larry Lennox-Choate.

As The Advocate reported last week, Clabough allegedly began yelling antigay slurs at the pair, then sucker-punched Daniel in the face. That's when Larry took action.

"He left covered in his own blood with his tail between his legs after I handled the situation and tossed him in the street like the coward loser he is," Larry recounted in a Facebook post.

"We refuse to be victims and are thankful we can defend ourselves, but are saddened by the fact that idiots like this guy might not pick two guys who went through Plebe Boxing next time," he added. The suspect ran from the store, got on his bicycle and pedaled away.

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Good always triumphs over evil. Maybe not on the timeline we'd prefer, but eventually. It's a good day for freedom. Justice is in the air and it smells damn good.#GotEm
Posted by Larry Lennox-Choate III on Wednesday, August 12, 2015