FBI Investigates Antigay Mob Attack

The FBI is investigating the attack against a young gay man by a mob of eight or more men in Rock Hill, S.C., that was captured on video.

The Herald of Rock Hill reports that the agency is probing the assault of Joshua Esskew, 19, last week as a potential hate crime on the federal level. South Carolina law does not recognize hate crimes.

Thus far, no arrests have been made in the April 9 attack at a convenience store that left Esskew unconscious and hospitalized. He said one of his attackers, all of whom were described as African-American males, used an antigay slur before breaking a beer bottle over his head.

According to The Herald, the attack and the video have sparked outrage among gay rights groups, particularly in the South, which are calling for the incident to be treated as a hate crime.

"The Gay American Heroes Foundation -- one of the largest gay rights groups in America that follows crimes against homosexuals and acts as an advocacy group for victims -- said Monday it has asked the FBI for a full investigation into the beating," reports the newspaper.