Woman may have been assaulted because she told attackers she was gay
Boulder Police are investigating a second-degree assault as a possible hate crime against a 21-year-old woman. The assault happened early Wednesday morning around 13th Street and Canyon Boulevard.
“There is no indication that (the woman) is a CU student,” said Boulder Public Information Officer Julie Brooks.
According to a press release by the Boulder Police Department, the woman reported meeting two men on the Pearl Street Mall and offered them a place to stay for the night. They then made sexual comments towards her, which she rejected, responding that she was gay.
“The men made sexual innuendos to her, she rebuffed their advances because she was gay, and shortly thereafter she was assaulted,” Brooks said.
The woman then claimed she was punched in the face and then kicked by one of the men after she fell to the ground. She said the other man told the assailant to stop but never physically intervened.
The victim called the police department shortly before 3 a.m. and was transported to Boulder Community Hospital, where she was treated for serious facial injuries.
According to the press release, the victim described the suspects as white males between the ages of 18-21, approximately 5’7″ and skinny. One male was wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt with chin-length blonde hair in a “Beatles-style” haircut. The other suspect was reported as wearing a dress shirt and sequined tie with Mardi Gras beads around his neck and had short dark hair. Both suspects were wearing baggy pants. The victim believes the second male’s name begins with a “D” and that the suspects claimed to be from California.
Anyone with information about this crime or the suspects should contact the BPD Investigations Division at (303) 441-3330.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Ashley Herzberger at Ashley.Herzberger@thecampuspress.com.
