A D.C. Superior Court jury has convicted 42-year-old Anthony Duncan of assault causing significant bodily injury but not guilty of committing a hate crime against a gay man. The charges stem from an incident in May 2022 when Duncan allegedly punched the victim in the face and head, breaking his nose and three teeth. The assault occurred after the two men crossed paths on 15th Street, N.W.
Court charging documents show that Duncan attempted to blame the victim for instigating the fight, claiming that the victim made a sexual gesture towards him. However, the victim disputed this assertion, stating that Duncan began calling him anti-gay slurs before punching him in the back of the head.
The victim was wearing a Stonewall Bocce shirt, a well-known LGBTQ sports league. A video obtained from Duncan’s phone shows him approaching the victim and verbally accosting him before punching him in the face.
Although the assault was designated as a bias-related crime based on the victim’s sexual orientation, the jury found Duncan not guilty of committing a hate crime. He faces a possible maximum sentence of three years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on April 28.
Former Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Mike Silverstein praised the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting the case against Duncan as a hate crime. However, he expressed hope that the judge would consider the circumstances of the case, including Duncan filming the assault and celebrating it.