A man who was jumped on by a group of teens while walking near Long Road and Barbara Road on Monday night may have been the subject of a hate crime due to his sexual orientation, Orange County Sheriff’s deputies said.
Daniel Lago, a white male, 20 years, told investigators he was walking home around 10:00 pm on September 13, when he was approached by a group of at least eight black teenagers. One of the males in the group asked to use his phone, but Lago told police he told them he did not have minutes on it. The teenage then asked him if he was gay, to which Lago replied, “what if I am”.
According to Lago, the juvenile replied, “So you are”. He said he was in fear for his life and thought that the group was going to beat him up because of his homosexual orientation.
At some point, Lago said one of the females in the group pushed him from behind and started to hit him, as did the teenager with whom he was engaging regarding the use of his phone. He tried to get away, he said and while doing so, one of the juveniles grabbed his necklace. He said he was hit on the lip, back of the head and cheek.
Lago at the time of the incident was wearing a rainbow colored necklace with two male symbols.
He told police he can identify two of the primary suspects and would like to prosecute.
