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Two Arrested in Calif. Antigay Attack, One More Sought

Two Arrested in Calif. Antigay Attack, One More Sought

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The men are accused of beating a gay man with rocks, bottles, and a board, and the one suspected of planning the attack remains at large.

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Two men have been arrested in connection with an attack on a gay man in Victorville, Calif., but police are still searching for a third suspect, who they say planned the attack.

The victim, whose name has not been released, met up with a man named Ethan Walker in the Southern California desert community the morning of October 28, according to a press release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. The men had been friends but had had a falling-out the previous day, when Walker reportedly asked the other man if he was gay and an argument ensued.

When the men met October 28, it was ostensibly because Walker wanted to apologize, but instead he and two other men beat the victim with rocks, bottles, and a 2-by-4 board in a drainage wash, causing numerous injuries, the Sheriff's Department reports. The attackers used antigay slurs and took the victim's wallet and cell phone, according to the release.

Police arrested Robert Anthony Fraire, 22, of Victorville, Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of attempted murder, assault, and robbery, reports The Press Enterprise of Riverside, Calif. A 17-year-old was also arrested; his name was withheld because he is a minor, and no further information was available.

Authorities have issued a warrant for Walker's arrest. They ask that anyone with information on his whereabouts call Detective Dana Weinberg at (760) 241-2911 or offer tips anonymously at (800) 782-7463 or WeTip.com.

Watch a report from Los Angeles TV station KTLA below.

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Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.