El Paso Police Investigate Assault And Robbery Of 23-Year-Old Openly Gay Emilio Moreno As Hate Crime

In El Paso, Texas, the Aguirre brothers are speaking out, united in their fight to catch the men they believe assaulted their younger brother just because he's gay. "This is my baby brother and I wish I had been there to stick up to these people that just don't care," said Eddie Aguirre. Emilio Moreno, 23, said he was leaving the Rumors bar in central El Paso on Sunday night, when two men jumped him in the alley behind the bar. "They were telling him stuff about his contacts, making fun of him, hitting him with rocks on the floor," said Gerardo Agguire. His brothers say KFOX 14 that the two men beat him up, took his wallet with six dollars in it, his class ring and even his jacket, before leaving him for dead. "I believe it was a hate crime because they were beating him up and calling him homosexual slurs," said Gerardo. Neighbours who live next to the alley heard the commotion and called an ambulance. As of Tuesday night, Emilio is at UMC, being treated for various facial injuries including a broken nose. "He said to me he wishes he would have died, and I asked him why, and he said so justice can be served and police would take it seriously," said Gerardo. Emilio chose to share his story because he wants people to see what hate can do to someone, said his brothers. They hope it does not happen to someone else. "There's so much hate in El Paso, it's sad for this to happen, can be anybody's brother, sister, or whoever," said Eddie. El Paso Police are investigating the assault and robbery as a hate crime, Officer Javier Sambrano telling The El Paso Times that the modifier was added because the assailants allegedly shouted anti-gay sluts during the attack. Anyone with any information is asked to call police at 832-4400 or El Paso Crime Stoppers at 556-8477.