8 Teen-Agers Arrested in ‘Gay-Bashing’ Incident

Eight teen-agers were arrested in a suspected “gay-bashing” incident in West Hollywood early Monday, several hours after an estimated 360,000 people cheered marchers in the annual Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade.

The victims, Brie Cooper, 29, and Victor Rawl, 34, were attacked about two blocks from the starting point of the parade along Santa Monica Boulevard. Both were treated for minor injuries at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and released.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested the teen-agers, including two juveniles, shortly after 2 a.m. and booked them for investigation of assault and interference with another person’s civil rights. Bail for each was set at $5,000.

Rawl, who lives a couple of blocks from where he was beaten--in front of a 7-Eleven store at 7950 Santa Monica Blvd.--said he was on his way home from a night of bar-hopping at clubs and restaurants that participated in after-parade festivities when he came across a youth threatening Cooper.

Deputy Rich Erickson said Cooper had walked past a group of teen-agers when one called out an epithet. Before Cooper responded, another teen-ager punched him in the mouth and midsection, Erickson said. Cooper ran, and the group turned to Rawl, who had crossed the street to join two other men who tried to stop the attack on Cooper, the deputy said.

“I went in there thinking maybe, verbally, I could calm it down,” said Rawl, who said he is 6 feet, 1 inch tall and 225 pounds, and larger than any of the assailants. “I thought maybe I could make them think twice. And they did--they rushed me, instead.”

The teen-agers forced Rawl to the ground, then stomped and punched him, he said.

“Everybody was kicking me, and the lights just went out,” Rawl said. “When it just stopped, I was thinking, ‘They must be done taking out their frustration.’ ”

Authorities estimated that the assault lasted about 30 seconds.

When deputies arrived, Erickson said, they rounded up possible suspects who lingered near the scene. The victims and several witnesses identified the eight youths who were arrested.

Six suspects were identified: Walid Fakhreddine, 19, of Sun Valley; Eduardo Asturias, 19, of Glendale; Jose Chicas, 18, of Los Angeles; Jiovane Alvarez, 18, of Los Angeles; Jose Romero, 18, of La Puente, and Roberto Mejia, 18, of Hollywood.

The identities of two juveniles--ages 16 and 17--were withheld because of their ages.

Dave M. Smith, spokesman for the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Community Service Center, said there have been minor incidents--mostly involving alcohol--at the Gay Pride parades in recent years. He said this year’s violence appeared to be a symptom of an intolerance that has accompanied the increased visibility of the gays and lesbians.