A Los Angeles man who was attacked and placed in a submission hold inside Miami Beach’s Burger King Whopper Bar last month is speaking out about what happened. NBC 6’s Jamie Guirola reports.
A Los Angeles man who was attacked and placed in a submission hold inside Miami Beach's Burger King Whopper Bar last month is speaking out about what happened.
The incident was caught on camera and police are searching for the men who attacked Jordan Schaeffer and his partner.
"Even talking about it makes me uncomfortable," Schaeffer said.
The fight happened around 3 a.m. on March 14 at the Whopper Bar at 1101 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach police said.
It was Schaeffer's first time in Miami Beach and he didn't leave with a good impression. Photos show welts, bruises and cuts all over his face.
"We're in 2016 and especially in a city like Miami Beach, where I thought being homosexual would be pretty accepted, it's just not right that anyone should suffer," Schaeffer said.
The 25-year-old was attacked while waiting for food at the Burger King location, which is across the street from the police department headquarters. He said he was targeted because he's gay.
"It was just a simple kiss with my boyfriend," Schaeffer explained. "Then right after that kiss, I started walking over and that's when I was approached by this gentleman."
Surveillance cameras show a man approaching Schaeffer after he came out of the bathroom. Schaeffer said he used a derogatory term for homosexuals.
"'Why don't you show if you're tough or not you little f----,'" Schaeffer recalled.
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Police said one of the unidentified subjects appears to have experience in martial arts. He body slammed Schaeffer, put him in a leg hold and took swings at his face.
"It all happened so fast once I got slammed to the ground. It's just kind of a blur," Schaeffer said.
He is now back in Los Angeles and recovering from multiple injuries to his lip, nose, face, wrist and back. But it's the psychological healing that needs the most attention.
"The biggest injury has been all the emotional trauma. We were going to Miami for a relaxing weekend and it was traumatizing, to be honest," Schaeffer said.
His lawyers said if and when the suspects are caught, they should face the heaviest charges.
"We believe this was a hate crime against Jordan because of his sexual orientation," Attorney Douglas Ede said.
Miami Beach Police said they're looking for two men seen in the video, who were allegedly involved in the fight. Anyone recognize them, you're urged to call Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.
