Buster

Atlanta Street Gang Members Videotaped Brutal Hate Crime Attack On "Faggot"

Members of an Atlanta street gang were filmed beating a man who was brutally assaulted because “faggots” were not allowed in their neighborhood, according to a videotape of the apparent hate crime.

The 30-second clip, posted today to the Worldstar Hip Hop web site, was shot outside a grocery store in Atlanta’s Pittsburgh neighborhood. The business, located at 1029 McDaniel Street SW, is a popular congregating spot for members of the Pittsburgh Jack City Gang (or “PBJC”). The group has also used the name “Jack City 1029.”

After being provided a link to the video, an Atlanta police spokesperson told TSG that the clip had been forwarded to the department’s gang division as well as the unit that investigates bias crimes against the LGBT community. Officer Kim Jones added that she was researching whether a police report was generated at the time of the attack (which investigators believe took place over the weekend).

As seen above, the video opens with an unseen cameraman and a second man outside the grocery store. The second man announces, “Round one. Jack City. No faggots.” Then, after a diminutive man exits the grocery, an assailant approaches him from behind and delivers a brutal punch to the side of the victim’s head. The man’s cell phone flies from his hand and he crumples to the ground.

The victim is then set upon by three men who punch and stomp him while he tries to cover his head. One of the attackers--who is wearing a shirt with “Jack Gang” imprinted on the back--even strikes the victim in the head with a tire.

As the man is beaten, the giggling cameraman announces, four times, “No faggots in Jack City.” An onlooker can be heard saying, “No faggot, man.” The video ends after one assailant picks up the victim’s cell phone and then punches the man in the head while holding the device.

A YouTube video of the PBJC gang (posted in mid-2010) shows young men outside the McDaniel Street grocery store (which can be seen here in a Google Street View photo). They brag about stealing necklaces, display gang signs, and refer to themselves as “goons.” One man describes himself as a “wild dog,” while another says, “I’m the Tasmanian Devil.”

The MySpace pages of "PBJC" affiliates include photos of a young man posing with cash and a rifle, a shot of the group's hangout spot, and images of gang members and mottos.

While the beating video does not indicate when it was shot, a police source told TSG that the attack occurred Saturday. Worldstar’s trademark clips of street mayhem (like this) are usually uploaded shortly after they were recorded.