Police, D.A. Probe Alleged Ethnic Intimidation Case After Man Attacked, Thrown On T Tracks
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Police and the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office are investigating a case of ethnic intimidation after a man was beaten and tossed onto the T tracks downtown last weekend.
It happened Saturday night after the Kenny Chesney concert at Heinz Field.
The victim, Kevin Lockett was so badly beaten that he says he doesn't remember most of the attack. However, Port Authority Police say the incident was caught on surveillance video.
Lockett's face is battered. He's still in pain after three days in the hospital and he can't understand what happened to him.
KDKA's Paul Martino: "Do you feel lucky to be alive?"
Lockett: "Very. Look, I got thrown on the tracks. They didn't have no intentions of me being alive I don't think. I don't know. I don't know what they were thinking."
It happened at the Wood Street T Station.
Four guys boarded the subway after the Kenny Chesney concert and encountered Lockett. Police say they were drunk.
Lockett says they were shouting expletives and derogatory words at him.
"Who would do that to anybody?" says Lockett. "The severity of the attack. I don't know."
Police have arrested 21-year-old Ryan Kyle. He's charged with aggravated assault and attempted homicide.
An additional charge of ethnic intimidation is now also being added since police and the district attorney say there's a racial element to the crime.
Three other men are facing charges in the incident. They are identified as David Depretis, Kenneth Gault, and Christopher LaPlace.
"They beat me till I was unconscious officers told me," said Lockett. "I'm scared to look at the film."
Police say during questioning, Kyle said, "Who cares, it was only a N-word."
They quoted LePlace as saying, "You think anyone cares? He is a N-word." Gault also allegedly said, "I don't know why you guys are making such a big deal about this, he is a crack head N-word."
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