75-Year-Old Florida Man Claims He Was Followed Home, Yanked Out Of His Vehicle And Brutally Attacked By Donald Trump Fan For Being Gay

Collier County deputies are investigating an incident that occurred in a residential area where a 75-year-old man, Chuck Redding, claimed to have been followed home by an SUV and brutally attacked by a Donald Trump fan for being gay, according to the ABC Action News.

After dropping off a friend, Redding of Sarasota, Florida, reportedly circled back and headed home but quickly became vexed when he realized he was being followed by a “dark colored Jeep Cherokee.”

Redding stated that “this guy was extremely close to me. At first, I didn’t think anything of it other than it was a jerk that was following too close” but when he turned onto his street the jeep began driving closer to his vehicle – that’s when he “knew then something was wrong.”

Fearing for the worst, Redding decided to park in front of a neighbor’s house in lieu of his own home, hoping the driver would drive around him and go on about his way.

Moments later, the driver – who is described as Hispanic with a beard – of the SUV jumped out of his car, walked up to Redding’s vehicle and began banging on the window.

When Redding was reluctant to roll down the window, the driver opened the door and dragged the man out of the vehicle, ripping his shirt and began attacking him while repeatedly saying, “‘You know my new president says we can kill all you f****ts now.”

Redding is an openly gay man, who has several marriage equality and rainbow bumper stickers on his vehicle in which he believes prompted the Trump fan to follow him home and attack him in the middle of the street.

The alleged hate crime left Redding’s arm badly bruised, cuts on his hand, which swollen to twice its size, and a scraped knee, as well as part of his toe being ripped off.

After attacking the Sarasota man for being gay, the Trump fan ran back to his vehicle and fled the scene, driving backward down the street. Redding reportedly ran after the SUV to get a glimpse at its license plate but was unsuccessful.

Prior to Trump winning the election, Redding stated that he has never been attacked for being gay and has now become “a part of the spike in attacks against minorities nationwide.”

He and a few friends contrive to take action by “applying for conceal carry permits and encouraging others to do the same.”

“It’s absolutely horrendous,” Redding said, recalling the incident. “If I can carry a weapon in my waistband so that it can be seen at least, maybe these people will think differently.”

The attack on a gay man sparked social media outrage, where Louis A. McBee wrote in a Facebook post that “of course this guy would pick on a 75-year-old man. F****** coward! This is exactly why so many gay people are getting firearms to protect themselves.”

“For my friends in Texas, you do not need a license to carry if you are traveling, but you cannot open carry. Know the gun laws in your state and be prepared to blow one of these mother****** away.”

Another social media user, Robb McDonnell, stated that he knows all too well about being attacked, adding that he has been called a “fa***t while walking the dogs in my neighborhood by people driving by. Also called f** while grocery shopping in my town, not even wearing an identifying t-shirt or sticker of any kind since the election.”

After Redding was attacked for being gay, he reported the incident to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, who are now investigating the incident.

[Featured Image By Elena The Wise/iStock]