Redblacks suspend player accused in homophobic attack
TORONTO — A badly beaten Toronto man spent part of Wednesday under the knife in hospital while the CFL’S Ottawa Redblacks were tackling allegations on social media that one of their players unleashed a weekend beating the victim says was motivated by homophobia.
The Redblacks said in a statement they “are aware of allegations made on social media involving a player in the organization. The team is currently investigating.”
On Wednesday night, the CFL team went one step further, announcing they were suspending the player — defensive lineman Chris Larsen.
“I don’t pretend to know all the specifics of this incident, but let me say this, the Redblacks and OSEG are proud of the role that we play in our community and we are committed to continuing to build an organization, both on and off the field, that reflects the values of our community,” Mark Goudie, CEO of the Redblacks’ parent company, Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, said in a statement. “Diversity and inclusion are central to our organizational values and we will try our best to use our platform to help make acts of hate and violence, including homophobia, stop.”
“We are particularly sorry for the trauma caused to the 2SLGBTQ+ community,” Goudie added.
Larsen was drafted in the 2019 CFL draft, but had not appeared in a game with the Redblacks.
“I was knocked unconscious and beat nearly to death,” David Gomez, 24, wrote on social media.
He considers himself lucky to be alive.
“I was dragged around, kicked and punched in the face. I now have a broken nose with a shattered face,” he posted. “On my way home from the beach a group of men decided to poke some fun at me by following me around and calling me ‘f—-t’ and ‘h–o.’”
Gomez is recovering from the brutal Saturday evening beating that happened close to the ferry docks near Hanlan’s Point.
Gomez wrote he has “multiple lacerations across my body, a broken tooth… oh and I also have a slight fracture on my right hip …”
Toronto Police confirmed they have launched an investigation into the aggravated assault.
And they are “… scouring for video, recovering evidence and speaking to witnesses to establish the motive,” a police statement said.
Investigators are looking for three unidentified suspects in connection with the attack, including two men and a woman.
“I welcome the fact that police have publicly stated they are investigating this as a possible hate crime,” Mayor John Tory said in a statement. “There is absolutely no place for homophobia in our city. It’s time to once again say an emphatic ‘no’ to this hateful violence.”