Posted on March 11, 2016

Marine Corps Veteran Says He Became Target of Hate Crime

Lisa Rantala, Fox 28 Columbus, February 29, 2016

A Marine Corps veteran says he became a random target in the Short North and police are consulting with prosecutors to determine if the case is a hate crime.

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{snip} “I don’t remember too much because I have a pretty severe concussion,” Gray said.

Gray went to the Pint House in the Short North Friday night with his high school friend. He stepped outside to make a call when he said he was approached and beaten unconscious. Gray said he remembered waking up at Grant Medical Center with the concussion and broken nose.

Police say a responding officer to the attack noted seeing Gray stumbling around disoriented. He went to the officer, stated he was a former Marine and said he was punched by three black men who kept referring to him as “white.”

The attackers took none of Gray’s belongings. “I even had an Apple watch on and they didn’t steal that,” Gray said.

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