Reno Texas Police Chief Announces Arrest Of Two Men In Connection To Horrific Anti-Gay Attack Against Burke Burnett

Two men have been arrested in connection with the brutal assault of a gay man early Sunday in Reno, Texas, which the victim and his friends say was a hate crime. The Dallas Voice reports that Reno Police Chief Jeff W. Sugg announced in a two-sentence statement this morning that Daniel Martin, 33, and James “Tray” Mitchell Lasiter, 31, have been arrested in the beating of 26-year-old Burke Burnett. Burnett said he was stabbed at least twice with a broken beer bottle and thrown onto a fire at a private party early Sunday, by up to four men who yelled gay slurs during the attack. Burnett needed more than 30 stitches to close stab wounds to his back and forearm, as well as a cut above his left eye from being sucker-punched at the start of the attack. He also suffered second-degree burns from being thrown onto a lit burn barrel. Martin and Lasiter were arrested late Monday. Each is charged with one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and one count of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury — first-degree felonies punishable by five to 99 years in prison. According to Sugg’s statement, the investigation is ongoing. Reno police spokeswoman Alicia Myrick said it will be up the Lamar County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether the case is prosecuted as a hate crime. “That’s not our decision,” Myrick said. Under Texas law, there is no penalty enhancement for a hate crime if the offense is a first-degree felony, making it highly unlikely that prosecutors would pursue such a designation.