Two Men Attacked After "Light Up Oak Lawn" March
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Another night of violence in the Oak Lawn area after a march done in the name of safety.
When Michael Redman and two friends walked out of the Tin Room, a small bar and dance hall near Maple Ave, it was supposed to be the end to a Sunday evening of fun capped off by the "Light Up Oak Lawn" march. The event is meant to raise awareness of needed improvements to the neighborhood's streets.
"Out of no where, a man is behind me, pushing me, saying 'give me your keys,'" Redman recalled.
The man, along with a female accomplice, told Redman and the others he had a gun. "He used gay slurs and said he'd shoot us."
The robbery and car theft was the latest in a string of assaults and robberies plaguing the Cedar Springs-Oak Lawn area, known as the entertainment hub for Dallas' LGBT community.
Dallas Police marked nine crimes in the Cedar Springs area as robberies or aggravated assaults against men walking alone. Monday evening, DPD announced a reward was being offered.
City Councilman Adam Medrano said $5000 from Resource Center and Crimestoppers will be issued to anyone with information leading to the arrest and indictment of those responsible for the crimes.
Police have previously stated they believe different groups of suspects are behind different offenses.
Redman said his assailant was desperate to steal his car.
"He pushed me, and said he would shoot us. When I looked up, his girlfriend was already sitting in my car."
Additionally, another man was attacked as he walked home from work shortly after the march.
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