20 Year Old Attacks Man He Believed To Be Gay; Set To Enlist In Army John Richard Shannon Remains In Jail Charged With Hate Crime

NBC Miami on the arrest of 20 year old John Richard Shannon, a resident of Boca, Florida, who last month at a bar in the Hotel Biba in West Palm Beach began to argue with a man he believed to be gay about homosexuals, Shannon saying he “hates faggots,” and that a cast on his hand was the result of assaulting another homosexual. The man, again, not gay, but with friends who are, defended himself, actions which allegedly angered Shannon, who began behaving erratically, screaming and shouting until hotel employees asked to leave. He complied, but then re-entered the premises, punching the victim in the face with his hand in cast, knocking the man unconscious. Shannon has been charged with aggravated battery, with the enhanced upgrade of “evidencing prejudice while committing offense,” having admitted to uttering an anti-gay slur while attacking the victim, Shannon having admitting as much to police Thursday. Shannon had intended on enlisting in the army Sunday, but he remains in jail held on a $25,000 bond.