Man Arrested Over Allegedly Throwing Punches, Antigay Slurs at Gay Bar

A 27-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly hurled anti-gay slurs and punched four men outside a Rhode Island gay bar this weekend.

Jacob Manning was taken into custody around 2 a.m. Sunday morning for the incident which occurred earlier at the Dark Lady, a popular LGBTQ+ bar in Providence. First reported by local TV station WLNE, Manning allegedly approached four men who were gathered outside the bar and without provocation punched each of the men in the face using a closed fist while yelling antigay epithets. Witnesses at the bar told the outlet Manning had been in the bar prior to the alleged assault.

Providence Police Commander Thomas Verdi told the Providence Journal police responded to reports of an assault at the Dark Lady located at 19 Snow Street. GoLocalProv reported the men told police they were leaving the club when Manning approached and started yelling anti-gay slurs like "faggots" while assaulting each of them. Manning had then entered the club after the assault and was still there when police arrived.

Police arrested Manning and charged him with four counts of simple assault stemming from the incident. Verdi also revealed that the victims said they did not know Manning, nor did they have any reason why Manning might have assaulted them.

The Dark Lady, located at 19 Snow Street in Providence, had been celebrating a special Chloe's 30th Birthday Bash that evening, although police and witnesses gave no indication there was any connection between the assault and the event.