A gay couple were allegedly attacked and beaten outside a casino in St. Charles, Missouri, over the weekend, and they say the assault was clearly a hate crime. Police say they are not so sure. Local news station KDSK reports that the couple - whose names have not been released - were walking out of Ameristar Casino when they encountered a group of men coming into the establishment. One of the men feigned throwing a punch at them and hurled an anti-gay epithet, the victims contend. Then, they say, the situation turned into a brutal attack. The beating took place in the hours of February 27, as one of the men helped his boyfriend exit the casino on the way back to the car. The boyfriend was intoxicated and needed help walking, the victims said. The man who was supporting his boyfriend pushed back at being called a homophobic slur, news reports said. It was that point the men allegedly began punching and kicking. The man's inebriated boyfriend was knocked out and fell to the ground. "All I could think about was getting over him, covering as he was getting hit with punches and kicks," the man said. "He was laying there unconscious." Speaking to another local channel, , the man provided additional details: "They saw me with my arms wrapped around him, and that's why they did that (fake hitting) motion and said (anti-gay slur)." "Everything after that was out of hate, so it's clearly a hate crime," the man continued. "As I'm crawling to him, I'm begging them, 'Please stop. Please stop. We're done.' Then they hit me in the stomach, I say, 'Please, we're done, we're done.' They say, '(profanity) right, you're (profanity) done.' " Now, he and his boyfriend are scared to go out in public. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍? ?(?️: Kilian Melloy / @dragelruairi , ?: Screen Cap/KDSK)

A gay couple were allegedly attacked and beaten outside a casino in St. Charles, Missouri, over the weekend, and they say the assault was clearly a hate crime. Police say they are not so sure. Local news station KDSK reports that the couple - whose names have not been released - were walking out of Ameristar Casino when they encountered a group of men coming into the establishment. One of the men feigned throwing a punch at them and hurled an anti-gay epithet, the victims contend. Then, they say, the situation turned into a brutal attack. The beating took place in the hours of February 27, as one of the men helped his boyfriend exit the casino on the way back to the car. The boyfriend was intoxicated and needed help walking, the victims said. The man who was supporting his boyfriend pushed back at being called a homophobic slur, news reports said. It was that point the men allegedly began punching and kicking. The man's inebriated boyfriend was knocked out and fell to the ground. "All I could think about was getting over him, covering as he was getting hit with punches and kicks," the man said. "He was laying there unconscious." Speaking to another local channel, , the man provided additional details: "They saw me with my arms wrapped around him, and that's why they did that (fake hitting) motion and said (anti-gay slur)." "Everything after that was out of hate, so it's clearly a hate crime," the man continued. "As I'm crawling to him, I'm begging them, 'Please stop. Please stop. We're done.' Then they hit me in the stomach, I say, 'Please, we're done, we're done.' They say, '(profanity) right, you're (profanity) done.' " Now, he and his boyfriend are scared to go out in public. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍? ?(?️: Kilian Melloy / @dragelruairi , ?: Screen Cap/KDSK)