A 25-year-old man from the West Side of Chicago has been charged with a hate crime after hitting a gay man in Lakeview.
Marquell Shepard, of the 3800 block of West Grenshaw, asked the victim about his sexual orientation at about 2:30 a.m. on Sat., July 15, a police spokesman told Windy City Times. After the 27-year-old victim responded that he was gay, Shepard punched him. The incident took place at Buckingham and Halsted, located in Boystown.
Shepard was charged with battery and a felony hate crime and was arraigned in bond court in front of Judge Raymond Myles on July 16. According to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Shepard’s next court date is July 21 at Belmont and Western.