Christopher Cain, Atlanta Anti-Gay Attack Suspect, Arrested And Charged With Aggravated Assault And Robbery

ATLANTA -- Atlanta police have arrested a suspect in the beating of a 20-year-old gay man that was captured on a widely viewed video.

Police spokesman Carlos Campos said Saturday that officers have charged 18-year-old Christopher Cain with aggravated assault and robbery in the Feb. 4 attack outside a southwest Atlanta store.

Police are still seeking two other suspects in the beating of Brandon White. Their names haven't been released.

Federal authorities are investigating the attack as a possible hate crime. Gay slurs are heard in the video as White is beaten. White told reporters that he shouldn't have to fear for his life because he is gay.

Comments

[Aaron Watkins]

05:50 AM on 02/16/2012

This clown should be locked away.

I don't understand the concept of hate crimes though, that one person who physically attacked and beat someone because they are gay should be locked away for longer than someone who physically attacked and beat someone for money or because they have a violent history.

Ethically and punitively it makes no sense on why they are punished differently.

Not to mention that the history of when prosecutors use the hate crime laws is rather biased and dubious.

[thefredman63]

07:20 AM on 02/14/2012

Its not jon that was posted to someone else about something else

[TarzanaGirl]

11:17 PM on 02/13/2012

Cain and his two buddies are the ultimate COWARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bmori]

07:27 PM on 02/13/2012

There is a very odd party to thank in this and many cases of violence. While I find that site that was watermarked in the video offensive because of the content they host, I am glad it is there, like an evidence locker. Now every genius who has the brilliant idea to videotape his momentary lapse of reason can look at their video at their court hearing.

[Americanwoman55]

04:21 PM on 02/13/2012

"Federal authorities are investigating the attack as a possible hate crime."

This was definitely a hate crime. ...no ifs ands or butts.... These 3 individuals need to have the book thrown at them hard and fast.

What is wrong in GA. Seems hate is alive and well. Shame shame shame on all of them.

[thefredman63]

03:56 PM on 02/13/2012

And Im still waiting for the video that proves Tea Party protesters shouted out racial slurs.

[Intelligenti Pauca]

04:04 PM on 02/13/2012

And I'm still waiting for evidence that proves "God" exists.

[thefredman63]

04:13 PM on 02/13/2012

Intelligencia, you are truly hateful and intolerant

[herewegoagain2]

07:18 PM on 02/13/2012

You must be looking into a mirror. You can't possible be referring to intelligenti

[thefredman63]

07:53 PM on 02/13/2012

Um i was referring to YOU

[SOD]

02:28 PM on 02/13/2012

"We have a federal hate crimes law. But there's no law here in Georgia that says its a crime to beat a man because he is gay, no law in Georgia that says it a crime to beat someone because they're Jewish, because they are a lesbian, because they are black, because they don't look like you. We've got to get back that here in this state."

It seems as if State Representative Taylor is suggesting it's legal to beat someone in Georgia so long as they are in one of the cited demographics. There are no laws, that I'm aware of, making it a crime to beat someone because he is a white heterosexual male and that is the way it should be.

A criminal assailant ought to be judged according to his actions; not the physical, social, or cultural characteristics of his victim. Otherwise, there will be no equal protection under the law.

The miscreants charged with this violent crime ought to be punished to the fullest extent of the law according to their behavior, not the characteristics of their target. Sadly, they will likely pay a higher price for their crimes than they would had their victim been a white heterosexual male.

[Americanwoman55]

04:25 PM on 02/13/2012

They would not have touch him if he was white and heterosexual. They went after him because he was gay.

Are you missing that little fact.

Women are raped bacause they are women that is why they need the rape pill. That is why women ar fighting for it. Men don't need it. What are you talking about.

[SOD]

11:53 PM on 02/13/2012

I like fish, but not Red Herring.

[Ireyon]

07:21 PM on 02/13/2012

Yes, because white heterosexual males are not usually beaten for merely daring to exist, so I do not consider a more severe sentence to be unfortunate at all. Minorities deserve protections, especially if they are looked at with animus because of irrational reasons.

[SOD]

08:16 PM on 02/13/2012

Actually there is a higher statistical likelihood of black on white racially motivated violence than white on black racially motivated violence when occurrences of such crimes are compared to the portion of the population occupied by the ethnicity of the perpetrators.

[Stephen Stafford]

12:53 PM on 02/13/2012

The lack of energy placed in the formation of this blurb is grievous for another reason.

The Atlanta Community has been on one accord in regards to this incident. Universal disgust has been strongly expressed. The young man has received universal support and well wishes. All are seeking the most vigorous prosecution of the perpetrators.

Every relevant elected official has spoken out about this violence, and made it absolutely clear that this violence and such behavior against gay people or anyone else will not be tolerated. Specifically, the congressman, mayor, city council members all showed up and have been active in various events relative to supporting this young man and speaking out against these acts.

Of course, many of these activities occurred in churches. The church community and clergy have also vigorously denounced these acts and behavior,

It is unfortunate the story did not share these relevant facts. Atlanta is united in support of this young man, and in not tolerating behavior of this sort towards gay persons, or any other person.

[MoeB]

01:34 PM on 02/13/2012

Thanks for pointing that out...

[SOD]

02:30 PM on 02/13/2012

I agree with everything you've said.

However, I'm frankly appalled with the very concept of hate-crime legislation.

A criminal assailant ought to be judged according to his actions; not the physical, social, or cultural characteri­stics of his victim. Otherwise, there will be no equal protection under the law.

[Ireyon]

04:42 PM on 02/13/2012

So in your opinion, someone who stole a piece of bread because he was hugry and someone who did it to hurt the business selling it should receive the same punishment?

The is a reason why judges and jury consider motivation during a trial.

[TabaskoKat]

07:32 PM on 02/13/2012

on the contrary. you think gettign beat/killed BECAUSE of your skin color or sexual preference equates equal protection??

we cant legislate 'hate' from social discource or mans heart, so we have extra judical measures to punish these outrageous crimes. the hate crime sentences are meant to be a deterant. kind of like how we kill to proves that killing is wrong. same thing

quite simpily, the next time you want to assault someone based on color.sexual orientatiom or for whatever visually unappealing reason......just be sure NOT to secream out disgusting pejoratives and you wont have to worry about the sentence mandates

[Stephen Stafford]

12:09 PM on 02/13/2012

This is a shamefully thin article. I live in Atlanta, and much ore information is available. Even the basic facts, few that were noted, are not correct.

These thugs are the source of their own undoing. Not only did they do a brazen and dastardly deed to someone who was not even aware of their presence. The article did not share what makes it even worse. The guys who did the beating posted the video themselves on the internet.

That is not an incidental detail. I wish if they do not have the time or interest to pull an article together, that they avoid putting out this kind of mess.

Less there be confusion, that is the victim, not the perpetrator depicted in the picture.

[Stephen Stafford]

12:35 PM on 02/13/2012

One thing I note people have not been made aware of from the comments is that three people at least issued the vicious beating. As it was recorded and uploaded to the internet, I hope the person who shot the video gets arrested as well.

[timbeaux]

03:48 PM on 02/13/2012

Well Jeez H. Krist, wouldn't you think HuffPo would say so???

That's shamefully sloppy.

[The INDYpendent]

11:09 AM on 02/13/2012

I didn't know that minorities could be bigots....

[atlblackops]

11:30 AM on 02/13/2012

I've heard this somewhere before......oh yeah, from Rick Santorum!~ wow!

[Stephen Stafford]

12:12 PM on 02/13/2012

What other human capacities have you exempted minorities from in your thinking?

[June25]

03:26 PM on 02/13/2012

That wass sarcasm based on the theory that one must be in power to disciminate.

[Al91206]

10:55 AM on 02/13/2012

You can bet the men who committed this awful crime think of themselves as "Christians"

[Stephen Stafford]

12:14 PM on 02/13/2012

How did you come up with that? What aspect of Christian spirituality or practice did you note in these accounts? How is such behavior similar to what Christians have involved ourselves with?

[KDMac]

02:36 PM on 02/13/2012

You and I not always see eye-to-eye, but we do on this one.

[SOD]

02:36 PM on 02/13/2012

I'm a staunch Libertarian Conservative. For that very reason, and no other, I've concluded that you are a great man speaking profound words of wisdom.

I salute you brother.

May your family be blessed with vigorous health.

[SOD]

02:32 PM on 02/13/2012

Why, because you have a bigoted view of Christians?

That's circular reasoning.

[Al91206]

02:55 PM on 02/13/2012

Gee I wonder where all that pent up hate against gays came from? Hmm... guess we could beat around the bush all day long, but we ALL know where it comes from: churches.

[Trapped in Arizona]

11:58 PM on 02/12/2012

The above video needs to be played on a 2 hour loop to Roland "smack the ish out of him" Martin.

[dogtac69]

03:41 AM on 02/13/2012

Trapped in Arizona

Amen. Fav. Already Fan.

[lacrosselamore]

08:49 AM on 02/13/2012

And to the people here who defend Martin.

[Stephen Stafford]

12:16 PM on 02/13/2012

I heard his comments differently than many, and I do not need you or anyone else to loop any video for me. Your understanding, sensitivity, knowledge or compassion do not exceed what I have within my grasp.

[antigaychristianssuck]

12:57 AM on 02/13/2012

LOL. The anti-gay hate culture is fostered by the anti-gay churches and the anti-gay GOP. The GOP and the anti-gay churches infect the culture at large. That's why they must be stopped. Stop fooling yourself and man up to the harm your anti-gay bigotry is causing.

[tluns810]

11:30 PM on 02/13/2012

I love liberals . where were you all last night? watching the Grammys I guess. How bout ADELE stunning I thought. Welcome back its no fun posting with no feedback from ya'll. I tried all night to get a rise out of the libs, but boy did they make up for it after the show was over.I'm going to have to go now responding to so many libs at once is starting to make my head hurt. good night .oh remember me & Jesus love ya'll.

[Morena]

01:38 AM on 02/13/2012

Incidents like this and CON behaviour aren't mutually exclusive.

And not defending these guys but people of stripes do this_ there are cases like this at prerp schools, low/middle/upper suburbs, etc.

Asserting that "when there is no structure in their lives,no parents,si­ngle parents,no church,poo­rly run gov't schools,no mentors" without knowing any specifics about the parties involved is typical CON behaviour.

As for this "liberal agenda" you speak...sounds like tired, not so well thought out talking points or paranoia (maybe both).

[HoosierInMaryland]

06:35 AM on 02/13/2012

"(maybe both)"

You are better than me to give him/her/it the benefit of the doubt.

[tluns810]

10:09 PM on 02/13/2012

I realize the truth is sometimes painful. The assertations I made is not of opinion but of fact.The data & statistics support it. Incarceration & violent crimes are overwhelmingly higher for kids with these backgronds & denying it does nothing to prevent or discourage it.This crime was a horrid & dispicable act,but punishment alone will not deter it. I would much rather see it prevented in the first place but no amount of laws is going to change that.You have to change the heart of the people to not want to do these things.

[jerry23]

08:43 PM on 02/12/2012

I pray that the victim stays safe and can get out of that area.

[garystartswithg]

08:42 AM on 02/13/2012

The area isn't as dangerous as this would lead you to believe, I live a couple miles from there, its close to Morehouse/Brown/Atlanta Colleges. My neighborhood is pretty much the gay district.
I think Morehouse sent a really bad message a few years ago with a dresscode that was deliberately aimed at the gay kids, which in my mind would just make me change schools -- GSU, Ga Tech, Emory, Oglethorpe, etc. don't have dress codes.

[dogtac69]

10:20 AM on 02/13/2012

garystartswithg

"~~ which in my mind would just make me change schools ~~"

No, we're tired of running and hiding. It is society which needs to change. Not us.

[SBinF]

10:57 AM on 02/13/2012

The area isn't dangerous?

I live in Midtown....no way in heck I'd be in Southwest Atlanta after dark, and perhaps not even in the day time!

[Godweiser]

08:29 PM on 02/12/2012

Just remember that this is how gays get treated by Republicans every time a Republican gripes about getting a little glitter on their sweater-vest.

[June25]

09:28 PM on 02/12/2012

Thanks to your shrewd investigative skills it looks as though this case has been busted wide open.

[Godweiser]

10:05 PM on 02/12/2012

Sarcasm fail. lulz

[dogtac69]

10:15 AM on 02/13/2012

June25

Actually, Godweiser is correct.

[Sean 6399]

01:08 AM on 02/13/2012

You should expect a beating if you throw unidentified substances on total strangers. You would certainly deserve one.

[Godweiser]

01:36 AM on 02/13/2012

lulz, interneththreats. Whatever you say, man.

[Tommygun264]

05:49 AM on 02/13/2012

And yet you think nothing of showering us with your ignorance.