3 Stabbed in Skinny Jeans 'Hate Crime'

Sacramento musicians say man yelled homophobic slurs during attack
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 24, 2015 12:11 PM CDT
3 Stabbed in Skinny Jeans 'Hate Crime'
Stock photo   (Shutterstock)

Police say three musicians were the victims of a hate crime in Sacramento on Sunday when a man yelled homophobic slurs, then stabbed them for wearing skinny jeans. Alex Lyman of the band Slaves writes on Instagram that he suffered injuries to his throat and arms, and a 2-inch-deep cut that barely missed his spleen. Bandmate Weston Richmond endured a broken arm and minor cuts, reports the Los Angeles Times, while Blake Abbey of the band Musical Charis was stabbed in the arm and needed surgery, per the Sacramento Bee. Authorities arrested Timothy Brownell, 25, on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and possessing a firearm, though he was released on bail Monday, before police classified the attack as a hate crime.

Police quickly issued a new arrest warrant for Brownell after the classification was made. He turned himself in to police yesterday, the Bee reports. Abbey had initially questioned authorities' decision to release Brownell, noting he couldn't sleep knowing the suspect was out of jail. "I can't even feel the top of my arm and this guy gets released from jail overnight," he wrote on Facebook, per the Times. Authorities say "the Sacramento Police Department has zero tolerance for these crimes." An officer adds alcohol was a factor in the attack and a triple stabbing is "very unusual" for the area. An "I wear skinny jeans" fundraiser is planned for Saturday in Sacramento, with all proceeds to be donated to the recovering musicians. (Skinny jeans are also dangerous for other reasons.)

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