FBI: 3rd suspect in videotaped gay beating in custody in Pennsylvania

Print
E-mail

By Marcus K. Garner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The third member of an Atlanta gang videotaped beating a 20-year-old gay man earlier this month turned himself in Thursday morning, police said.

Atlanta , Police Department Dareal Damare Williams is wanted for his alleged part in the Feb. 4 robbery and attack on Brandon White outside an Atlanta store.

Enlarge photo

John Burrows (far right), a resident of Atlanta's Pittsburgh community, asks Atlanta Police Chief George Turner about police patrols in the community during a public safety meeting Thursday night. The emergency meeting was called after gang members beat a gay resident, shouting anti-gay slurs and posted a video of the attack online. Turner told meeting attendees that police had identified two of three men shown beating and kicking 20-year-old Brandon White in the footage.

Enlarge photo

Brandon White, 20, speaks to members of the media about the videotaped violent beating during a press conference at Georgia-Hill Branch Library Wednesday.

Vino Wong, vwong@ajc.com Brandon White, 20, speaks to members of the media about the videotaped violent beating during a press conference at Georgia-Hill Branch Library Wednesday.

More Atlanta/Fulton news »

Darael Damare Williams surrendered to Erie, Pa., authorities around 10:30 a.m., without incident and was arraigned an hour later on Pennsylvania State Fugitive from justice charges, Atlanta police said.

Williams was wanted for his part in the Feb. 4 robbery and attack on Brandon White outside a neighborhood market in Atlanta’s Pittsburgh community.

FBI agents in Pittsburgh, Pa., said Williams, 17, fled Atlanta to hide out in the Erie, Pa., area, where he is believed to have relatives.

FBI Special Agent Jason Crouse said Erie, Pa. agents have been looking for him in that area for about a week.

Federal agents issued an all-points alert Wednesday in Pennsylvania identifying him as a fugitive and stating that he was “considered dangerous.”

Williams is being held on $250,000 bond at the Erie County Prison as he awaits an extradition hearing, authorities said.

He will likely be extradited to Atlanta sometime next week, Atlanta police spokesman Officer John Chafee said.

The FBI became involved because federal authorities are investigating whether federal hate crime charges will be applied to this case.

Authorities believe Williams is one of three males who punched and kicked Brandon and bludgeoned him with an abandoned car tire before robbing him – all while shouting anti-gay slurs in front of a rolling video camera.

That footage was posted online, where it caught the attention of law enforcement and the ire of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender community and local community leaders.

Mayor Kasim Reed raised an Atlanta Crime Stoppers reward several times, until the final sum reached $25,000.

The responding tips, police said, led to the arrest of Christopher Cain, 19, a week after the incident. On Feb. 17, 19-year-old Dorian Moragne turned himself in to police.

All three teens are said to be members of the so-called "Jack City 1029″ or "Pittsburgh Jack City" gang because of the community they're active in and the address -- 1029 McDaniels St. -- where they hang out.