I got back a short while ago from an interview with the victims of this weekend’s anti-gay hate crime in Oak Lawn, Kyle Wear and Alex Bowers, both 28.
I’ll have a full story in Friday’s Voice, but for now here’s a closer look at some of the injuries sustained by Wear, who was hospitalized following the attack. Wear said his jaw is broken in two places, on either side of his face. He’ll have surgery Wednesday to insert plates in his jaw that will be permanent. He’ll also be seeing a dentist to repair the incisor tooth that was broken off but remains attached to his gums.
Wear, Bowers and I walked from the Cedar Springs strip down to the site of the attack, which is actually less than two blocks away, on the near side of Throckmorton and Congress. We found a trail of blood on the sidewalk from where the attack occurred to the nearby condo where the pair walked immediately after the attack.
Remarkably, Bowers was unharmed.
@John,
Curious to know whether Wear and Bowers live in the area and were walking to the strip when attacked or did they have to park that far away and walk?
@Tisha: They do not live in the immediate area. They were at a party at a friend’s condo near Throckmorton and Congress, and decided to walk down to the strip for a drink.
It’s dangerous to walk down those streets and there’s not sufficient free parking in the area. Apparently those parking places are $10 some nights. I don’t want to pay someone who’s not even watching my vehicle! Hope those two are doing alright!
Kyle had a GOOGLE ADROID phone and it got stolen. I GPS’d the device and we & the police know the small vacinity that they are staying in. Too bad, Kyle is my cousin and he is doing well. His spirits are high and he is an incredible guy.
It’s really too bad that most people fight their fears outwardly and fail to see and fight their inner most fears inwardly. These attackers obviously are emotional and are in bondage because of their fears. Fighting outwardly will always have bad outcome. Best we can do is pray and love the attackers. Love them because we are all capable of such an act/s, just as we are capable of the most loving acts as well.
The only way to truly make a positive difference is LOVE and only Love.
Billy V!