Phoenix Man Says Group Called Him Gay Slur Before Hit and Run

Winnie McCroy READ TIME: 2 MIN.

A Phoenix man said that a group of people called him a gay slur outside a local record store, and after he retaliated, hit him with their car.

Towleroad reports that 24-year-old Justin Finch was walking out of the Zia Record Exchange at 19th Avenue and Camelback Road this Wednesday, February 18, when a group of people called him a gay slur. This led to a physical fight, in which he slammed one of the guys to the ground.

Then, said Fitch, they jumped in their car and slammed into reverse, hitting him and pinning him between their car and another vehicle, before speeding off with Finch hanging onto the trunk.

Phoenix Fox 10 posted video footage of the car driving into Fitch, who hangs onto the trunk for an extraordinary length of time. Finch survived with just scrapes and bruises.

"They said it was a mutual thing, but I don't think it was a mutual thing because I didn't come at them, they came at me," explained Finch. "It was shocking. I was scared for my life for a minute. Bam. I got pinched between two cars. This leg got twisted around and stuff... I'm like, afraid."

But those in the other group say Finch isn't the victim.

"I turned around to walk outside and he assaulted me, he picked me up and I started defending myself," said 16-year-old Orlando Munoz, who was one of the people inside the white car. He was with his uncle and his uncle's girlfriend, who he says was driving.

Munoz's mother, Yvette, who is gay, says her son never used a gay slur and this was no hate crime.

"I think it's foolishness... both parties should have walked away," she said.

Police reportedly let everyone go, as no one wanted to press charges.

You won't believe this footage!


by Winnie McCroy , EDGE Editor

Winnie McCroy is the Women on the EDGE Editor, HIV/Health Editor, and Assistant Entertainment Editor for EDGE Media Network, handling all women's news, HIV health stories and theater reviews throughout the U.S. She has contributed to other publications, including The Village Voice, Gay City News, Chelsea Now and The Advocate, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Read These Next