Four young men suspected of beating dance-music artist Kevin Aviance in Manhattan while yelling anti-gay slurs were arraigned on assault charges June 14, the Associated Press reported. However, the suspects did not enter a plea.
According to a felony complaint filed by prosecutors, the men followed Aviance, called him derogatory names and threw two garbage bags and a paint can at the singer before surrounding and attacking him.
After the beating, someone helped Aviance walk to Beth Israel Medical Center, according to TheVillager.com. He suffered a shattered jaw and had severe bruises all over his body. His jaw had to be wired shut.
By the next morning, police had arrested all four youths. They were identified as Jarell Sears and Akino George, both 20; Gregory Archie, 18; and Gerard Johnson, 16, according to the Associated Press.
Aviance—who’s behind the dance-floor hits ‘Alive’ and ‘Din Da Da,’ among others—is now determined to perform in gay pride festivities at the end of the month. On June 17, he participated in a West Village anti-violence rally, NY1.com reported. ‘We can’t fight any of these people with arms and bullets and drama. We have to fight all these people with love every single day,’ he said.