Man recounts weekend "gay-bashing" assault in Downtown Phoenix

PHOENIX (AP/FOX 10) -- Phoenix Police say as many as 10 people may have been involved in the assault of a driver.

Police spokesman Tommy Thompson said Monday that investigators are searching for suspects in the Friday night attack downtown.

Authorities say the 41-year-old male victim exchanged words with a pedestrian after she caused him to stop his car suddenly.

"She stared at me intently, she walked by the passenger side of my car, she took a long drag of her cigarette and she called me a [expletive], and flicked it right at my face," said the victim, Cesar Marin.

The victim says he got out to confront her when a second woman "rushed" him.

According to Marin, what happened next is spotty. He says he turned the car around to get the cigarette out of the car, and that's when he says people rushed him.

"People were running towards me with their fists clenched, and they started attacking me. I was getting hit and punched from all sides," said Marin. "I just remember being on the floor, coughing up a lot of blood."

Marin suffered a broken nose, bruises and lacerations. He says the homophobic slur wasn't an accident, as he believes the woman came up with it after seeing the stickers on his car, and hearing his music.

Marin says he's lucky to be alive.

"This attack, all the times my other friends get attacked, it all starts the same way," said Marin. "Someone calls you a [expletive], and they start hitting you, so I can't call it anything other than a gay bashing."

Marin has posted an account of what happened, in a lengthy post to his Facebook profile. (WARNING: Foul language and graphic imagery present. Discretion advised.)

The post has since been shared over 2,000 times, as of Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, in a statement released Monday afternoon, Phoenix Police officials say they are looking for two women, in addition to other men. One of the individuals who was seen kicking the victim is described as a white man, 5'9" to 5'10" tall, weighing 220lbs to 250 lbs.

Anyone with information should leave an anonymous tip by calling Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS. Spanish speakers can leave an anonymous tip by calling Testigo Silencioso at 480-TESTIGO.

Si tiene alguna información sobre este caso, llame a la línea de Testigo Silencioso (480-TESTIGO, 480-837-8446).

The Associated Press (AP) contributed to this report.

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http://www.silentwitness.org/