D.C. police are investigating a possible hate crime after a group attacked a gay man outside a McDonald's

D.C. police say the attack on a gay man by a group of up to 15 people as he exited a McDonald's at 14th and U streets on Sunday is being investigated as a possible hate crime.

The man, 22-year-old model Sebastian Thomas Robles Lascarro, had stopped by the fast food restaurant for a quick bite after a night at nearby bars but decided to leave because of the long lines.

As he walked to the door, a young woman yelled at him and allegedly said, “He had to watch where he was going and say, 'Excuse me.'”

Lascarro's husband, Stuart West, told WTOP that as Lascarro walked to the door, he was surrounded by a group of people blocking his way out.

West said the group then called his husband homophobic slurs. “They said, 'You f—-, I'm going to teach you how to say sorry.'”

“I've always told Thomas since he moved here that if you come across people on the street or in a bar who are aggressive or approach you in a certain way, that's the best option for you “Making them uncomfortable. The only thing we can do is just ignore them and run,” West said.

“He decided to try to put his hand up and get out of there … pushing it to the side to get to the door,” West said. “As soon as that happened, they all started hitting him.”

West, who was sleeping at home that night, said his husband told him the attack spilled out onto the sidewalk outside, where the group continued to beat and insult him.

“He's alone on the ground, no one is intervening and everyone else is encouraging each other to be more aggressive,” West said.

While Lascarro was on the ground, he tried to FaceTime his husband and accidentally filmed trash and drinks being thrown at him.

“I woke up to this FaceTime from my husband, his face was unrecognizable,” West said. “I felt powerless. I felt useless. I was really shocked. And later, of course, there was anger about the whole situation.”

Courtesy of Stuart West

Courtesy of Stuart West

Courtesy of Stuart West

Courtesy of Stuart West

Lascarro was able to get up and walk away from the sidewalk in front of the restaurant before falling into a wall. Two passers-by saw him and stayed with him when he called the police.

He was taken to Howard Hospital to be treated for his injuries.

In an email to WTOP, D.C. police confirmed the incident is being investigated as a potential hate crime.

West, who works for a federal agency, has wondered if D.C. is the right place for him and his husband to call home.

“Washington, DC is hosting World Pride 2025. How can we invite the LGBTQ+ community around the world to come here and celebrate their openness, freedom and safety when our residents who live here are not, in fact, open ? “, safe and secure?” he said.

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