Defendant Screamed Homophobic Slurs while Chasing Gay Men
with a Knife
A 38-year-old Bremerton, Washington, man was charged today
with a federal hate crime under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate
Crimes Prevention Act, for a January 2015 assault on three gay men, announced
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil
Rights Division, and U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes of the Western District of
Washington. Troy Deacon Burns was
transferred from state custody today for his initial appearance on the federal
charge in U.S. District Court in Seattle at 2:00 p.m. PDT.
According to the criminal complaint, just after midnight on
Jan. 25, 2015, three gay men were walking on East Pike Street toward Broadway
in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood when Burns came up behind them and
shouted homophobic slurs. Burns was
holding a knife, which he raised up over his head in a stabbing position. Fearing for their safety the men started
running. As Burns caught up to one of
the men he again used a slur as he attempted to stab him. One of the other men was able to pull his
friend away from Burns. The third man
located Seattle Police Officers who took Burns into custody. While detained in the patrol car, Burns
continued to yell homophobic slurs.
The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and
until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Commission of a hate crime is punishable by up to ten years
in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department
and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Saeed Mody of the Civil Rights
Division and Assistant U. S. Attorney Bruce Miyake of the Western District of
Washington. The King County Prosecuting
Attorney’s Office is providing significant assistance with the case.
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