Early Wednesday morning inside Sandbar, 52-year-old John Skaggs was out with friends, when Shreveport police say he was repeatedly hit with a pool cue.
"I said what happened, they said you're in an ambulance," explained Skaggs. "I said what happened? They said somebody hit you. I said for what?
Skaggs said before the attack he spoke about being gay with his friends.
"I'm not ashamed of being gay, I've been gay all my life," he continued.
His accused attacker is William Payne. Upon arrival, Shreveport police found Payne being detained by security for the assault. Charging Payne with attempted second degree murder and a hate crime.
"Hatred is a strong thing and I don't understant hatred, but to have a hatred towards somebody you don't even know," said Skaggs. "I don't understand that, no matter what."
"It was completely unprovoked, there was no reason for this to happen," said Adrienne Critcher. "It's frightening to everyone."
P.A.C.E.'s Adrienne Critcher, people acting for change and equality works to advance the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.
"It's not just a crime against an individual, which is horrible enough, but it's a crime against the whole community," she said. "The purpose is to make everyone in the community frightened for their safety."
Recovering from multiple bruises, Skaggs gathers enough strength to remain prayerful for his attacker.
"I just hope he gets some help and finds the answers to his problems," he ended.
