Two men are accused of yelling taunts about sexual orientation as they chased down and assaulted another man in Denver two weeks ago.
Joseph Murphy, 18, and Zachary Kocman, 19, face misdemeanor assault charges but a felony count each of allegedly committing a “a bias-motivated crime,” according to the Denver District Attorney’s Office.
The victim, a 25-year-old man, said he was walking with a friend West 52nd Avenue and Federal Boulevard at about 2:30 p.m. on July 18.
“The charges allege Murphy and Kocman drove by, yelling sexual-orientation slurs and then got out of their vehicle and chased the victim for several blocks before physically assaulting him,” prosecutors said in a media release.
Murphy and Kocman are each free on $3,000 bond. Neither has an adult arrest record, according to court databases.
By Joey Bunch
