4 Arrests Made In Austin Gay Couple's Attack (Updated)

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Police on Tuesday said two arrests have been made in connection to the beating of a gay couple in downtown Austin last month in what police have categorized as a hate crime.

Frank Macias, 22, of Georgetown was the first person identified by police accused of participating in the attack on Spencer Deehring and Tristan Perrry on Jan. 19 after the couple exited the Rain nightclub on 217 W 4th St. Later in the day, police confirmed three other men — Quinn O'Conner, Miguel Macias and Kolby Monell — were also in custody as of late Tuesday.

All four men have been charged with two counts of Second Degree Aggravated Assault. Bond for each has been set at $150,000 on each charge for a total of $300,000 apiece. The lead detective in this case is Charles Edwards, the Austin Police Department said.

After immediately releasing a booking photo of Frank Macias, police on Wednesday issued mugshots of the three other suspects. In the slide show above, the photos in order show Frank Macias, Monell, Miguel Macias and O'Connor.

Deehring and Perry related their harrowing experience to media outlets, saying the incident occurred shortly after they left the downtown bar where they had been celebrating a friend's birthday as they held hands. One of the men directed a homophobic slur at them, the victims said. After exchanging words with the initial offender, the couple was beaten by a group of men who joined in on hurling invective prior to the attack, according to police.

Led by Assistant Chief Ely Reyes, law enforcement officials staged a 4 p.m. press briefing on the case on Tuesday during which more details were given:

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Despite priding itself on its tactics of tolerance, Austin has seen attacks on the gay community in the recent past. Last summer, police investigated a series of incidents involving the shooting of fireworks at gay bars located in the downtown entertainment sector. One such incident took place in the midst of a week-long celebration of gay pride. Police in August 2018 detailed the incidents:

• The first incident took place at the Iron Bear bar, 21 W. 8th St., just after 1 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 9, police said. The complainant told police a firecracker was thrown onto the patio.

• Some 30 to 40 minutes later, another firework was thrown on the south side of The Driskill hotel at the corner of 6th and Brazos streets, police said. An APD sergeant who happened to be in the area heard a firework and saw the resulting smoke, but did not see a suspect in the area. He called out to other nearby officers who also were unable to spot whoever might have been responsible.

The fireworks attack at Iron Bear marked the second time the bar was similarly targeted. On June 28, 2018, just before 2 a.m., an unknown suspect drove by and threw a loud firework onto the patio, police confirmed. No injuries were reported, and no vehicle description was given. The complainant told police no audio or video of the incident was available.

Yet for all it overall tolerance, Austin also is the focal point of a conservative-led state government intent on passing laws detrimental to the gay community — a segment considered anathema to the Republican party's traditional "family values" ideal.

In November 2019, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton voiced support for a pair of baker in Oregon who were sued after refusing to make a cake for a same-sex wedding. In supporting the bakers, Paxton filed a friend-of-the-court brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case involving the pastry makers' "...constitutionally-protected conscience rights."

Paxton contends the state of Oregon forced Aaron and Melissa Klein to shut down their business, Sweet Cakes by Melissa, after they declined an order to create a cake for a 2013 same-sex marriage ceremony "...because of their deeply held religious belief that marriage is the union of one man and one woman," he wrote in a press advisory.

And in June 2017, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a measure that allows faith-based adoption and foster care agencies to prevent gay and transgender individuals, as well as non-Christians, from adopting children under their stewardship. House Bill 3859 gained approval even as the state struggles to overcome a critical shortage of homes for abused and neglected children — many of whom were placed in hotels and offices as makeshift living quarters given their numbers as they wait to be placed with adoptive parents. According to lawmakers, religious agencies make up about a quarter of the child placement agencies in Texas. The new law also gives these agencies leeway in denying adoptions to those not practicing the Christian faith.

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>>> Frank Macias booking photo provided by Austin Police Department