St Louis Attack Called Antigay

Three men who were assaulted outside a St. Louis nightclub early Saturday say they believe they were targeted because they're gay.

One of the three, Jacob Piwowarczyk (pictured), says four men emerged from a car and began shouting antigay slurs, reported the Belleville [Ill.] News-Democrat. "We kept telling them please leave us alone, we're fine," Piwowarczyk said. "From there, the one kid didn't like what we told them and decided to punch me in the eye and I fell to the ground. And at that time my friend was laying on the ground and they started kicking him in the face."

Piwowarczyk suffered an eye injury that required six stitches, a mild concussion, and a soft-tissue bruise on his elbow. One of his companions received a broken nose, the other a fractured cheekbone.

The attackers had been at a bar that shares a parking lot with the Complex Nightclub, which Piwowarczyk and his friends had just left. Piwowarczyk said the assailants drove off in a black SUV with Illinois plates before police arrived.

St. Louis police are looking for the suspects but say it's too early to categorize the attack as a hate crime.