Two Men Charged In Anti-Gay Hate Crime Assault at San Jose State

Two men have been charged with a hate crime and felony assault after an alleged attack on a San Jose State University student over the weekend.

The incident happened early Saturday morning, September 19, around 3:44 am. According to a release from the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, the two suspects walked by the victim on the San Jose State campus while he was walking with two female friends and asked him if he was gay, which was followed by the suspects yelling homophobic slurs as the victim and his friends tried to ignore them and walk on.

The suspects, identified as 19-year-old Josue Medina Flores of Sunnyvale and 20-year-old Christian Gabriel Nunez Petty of Fremont, then allegedly ran up to the victim after he'd passed by and began physically attacking him, all while yelling slurs.

One of the victim's friends, who jumped on top of him to shield him from blows, was reportedly struck by the attackers as well.

San Jose State University police officers reportedly interrupted the attack and apprehended the fleeing suspects before they left the campus. They were then transferred to San Jose Police custody, and the pair has now been charged with felony assault with hate crime allegations.

The victim was treated for his injuries at an area hospital and was then released.

There seems to be little doubt that the attack was unprovoked, as it was captured on campus surveillance cameras.

"If you hurt someone because of their race, religion, gender, or sexuality, you will be arrested and prosecuted," said District Attorney Jeff Rosen in a statement. “Tolerance and diversity are cherished values in this community. We back up them with one voice – and the full might of the law."

The DA's office notes it has filed charges in 14 hate crimes so far this year.

Flores and Petty were scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 pm Wednesday in Department 23 of the Hall of Justice in San Jose, per KTVU.

It remains unclear if either man is a student at San Jose State, or if they were just passing through the campus.

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