Man says he was beaten in Miami Beach because of sexual orientation

Kenneth Wilcox suffers broken ribs, concussion

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A man said he was beaten Friday evening while walking his dog in Miami Beach and that his sexual orientation was what provoked his attackers.

Kenneth Wilcox told police he was walking his dog at 14th Street and Meridian Avenue when two men walked past him and said, "You're a (homophobic slur)."

Police said Wilcox just kept walking but that one of the men grabbed him from behind while the other one repeatedly punched him in his face and body while saying, "All (homophobic slur) need to die and we're going to make sure they do."

Wilcox said he passed out at some point and regained consciousness about three hours later, went home and went to sleep. When he woke up the next morning, he went to a hospital.

Doctors at Mount Sinai Medical Center said Wilcox had some internal bleeding, fractured ribs and a concussion.

"Nothing was taken," Wilcox told Local 10 News.

Police are searching for the attackers.

One of the men is identified as being 6 feet 1 inch to 6 feet 2 inches tall and 200 pounds with braids in his hair.

The second attacker is described as being 5 feet 9 inches and 160 pounds with a shaved head.

Both men were wearing jeans and T-shirts.


About the Authors

Dawn Jorgenson, Graham Media Group Branded Content Managing Editor, began working with the group in April 2013. She graduated from Texas State University with a degree in electronic media.

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.

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