Gay Man Found Barely Alive on Atlanta Train Tracks

Police in Atlanta are investigating after a gay man was found bloody and clinging to life in the early hours on Sunday, July 11.

The man, Joshua Dowd, was sent to the hospital with head injuries, according to TV station CBS46.

"I'm in freefall," said Dowd's partner of more than three years, Colin Kelly. He said the police told Kelly that Dowd, who is of Asian descent, had been taken to Grady Hospital with a blunt force injury to his head.

"We don't have a lot of information to go on," Kelly said.

A man out for a walk found Dowd Sunday morning on some train tracks. Local media reported the witness said there was no one near where Dowd was discovered.

"I don't know how he got there. It's not an area he would typically be in," Kelly told CBS46. "As far as I can tell, someone hit him with something very hard on his head."

Kelly said Dowd had gone with friends to Atlanta's Midtown, but eventually split from the group.

"I really hope we get answers because someone hurt him," Kelly said. "He's fighting very hard for his life right now, but someone hurt him and it's very severe."

"I've never actually experienced this type of heartbreak before," said Brittany Rivera, a friend of Dowd's. "The fact that someone could do this and take away such a precious piece of our life is not OK."

As of Saturday, July 17, a GoFundMe organized for Dowd and his medical expenses has collected more than $55,000.

"Joshua is the most kind, caring, spirited, Ariana-Grande-loving-person on this planet. He has changed the lives of many. Joshua is the type of person who leaves a mark everywhere he goes, and none of us want to ever imagine a life without him," the GoFundMe stated.

Police have designated the case "miscellaneous/noncrime," according to CBS46. However, the case is still under investigation. Anyone with information about the incident has been asked to contact the Atlanta Police Department.

"Everything I know revolved around Josh," Kelly said. "Everything I loved revolved around Josh. Everything reminds me of Josh. We're still holding out hope."