A suspect has been arrested and a Nanaimo student is recovering from injuries and trauma sustained in an alleged homophobic assault.
The incident happened at a house party early Sunday morning, March 27, following a basketball game at Vancouver Island University.
Spencer Frey suffered facial bruising and a possible fracture to his left cheek after he was punched multiple times by several assailants.
Frey, an interior design student at VIU, said he felt uneasy when he arrived at the party sometime before 1 a.m. The location was farther from the campus than he and his female friend would normally go and he didn含羞草研究社檛 know a large portion of the people there.
含羞草研究社淭he first thing that set off my alarms was when I was just talking to my friend 含羞草研究社� and this kid taps on my shoulder and then he says, 含羞草研究社榊ou含羞草研究社檙e disgusting.含羞草研究社� I said, 含羞草研究社楨xcuse me?含羞草研究社� and then he said, 含羞草研究社榊ou smell. You含羞草研究社檙e disgusting,含羞草研究社� and then he proceeds to call me the 含羞草研究社楩含羞草研究社� slur,含羞草研究社� said Frey, who is gay. 含羞草研究社淚 retaliated with, I think I said, 含羞草研究社榊ou含羞草研究社檙e short,含羞草研究社� and I walked away. It含羞草研究社檚 just like something I totally would say when I get called those names.含羞草研究社�
Spencer said he shrugged off the encounter, but about 30 minutes later he was physically accosted.
含羞草研究社淚 was talking to one of my other friends and I feel a squeeze on my butt, a really long squeeze, and then I turn around and some kid is licking his lips,含羞草研究社� Frey said.
He and his friend decided it was time to go, but as they were getting ready to leave another person aggressively approached Frey.
含羞草研究社淗e said, 含羞草研究社榊ou含羞草研究社檝e been looking at me all night.含羞草研究社� I go, 含羞草研究社楴obody含羞草研究社檚 been looking at you,含羞草研究社� and then I don含羞草研究社檛 remember anything because that含羞草研究社檚 when I got punched,含羞草研究社� Frey said.
He was told afterward that he raised his wine bottle to try and defend himself, it was ripped out of his hand and then about four or five people piled on him and started punching him in the face. His friend started screaming and some party-goers tried to help while others allegedly tried to join in the assault.
含羞草研究社淪he was pushing me out of the house and, apparently, I was screaming bloody murder at these people, of course defending myself,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚 don含羞草研究社檛 remember what I said at all, but apparently I was outside and 含羞草研究社� they start to attack me again.含羞草研究社�
His attackers allegedly yelled homophobic slurs.
含羞草研究社淭hen I was pushed in the car and we drove away,含羞草研究社� he said.
Frey is in the final weeks of his second year of studies at VIU. The university arranged for him to complete his studies online, which he is now doing from his parents含羞草研究社� home in Chandler, Ariz.
Irlanda Gonzalez-Price, VIU associate vice-president of student affairs, issued a statement about the incident Tuesday, March 29, saying the university is taking the matter seriously and is offering counselling support to students and staff who need it.
含羞草研究社淭his horrific incident goes against everything VIU stands for and I know many in our community are upset by what has happened含羞草研究社卟菅芯可鐫 Gonzalez-Price said in the statement. 含羞草研究社淰IU stands for equity and inclusion. I reiterate that any student or employee found to be involved in incidents of racism or discrimination will be subject to the full extent of our policies and procedures. I know there are many allies on this campus and I encourage you to reach out and check in with one another.含羞草研究社�
Reserve Const. Gary O含羞草研究社橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, confirmed an arrest has been made and police are continuing their investigation.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e treating it as a possible hate crime,含羞草研究社� O含羞草研究社橞rien said. 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e asking for witnesses, anybody with information. We do not condone violence, especially violence associated with any sexual orientation. It含羞草研究社檚 not acceptable.含羞草研究社�
Anyone was at the party who witnessed the incident is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345 and quote file No. 2022-10317.
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