Aside From Being Bothered By ‘Queers’ What Got Into Dallas Airport Attacker?

Remember last week’s viral video of a man being taken down by bystanders after he attacked a man he called a “faggot”? Police have ID’d him and released a report.

Police report that a 27-year old man named McCleish Christmas Benham was arrested last week. Allegedly, of course.

Benham, assumedly no relation to the anti-gay Benham brothers, was charged with public intoxication and simple assault.

A video shot by Andrew Kennedy and posted to YouTube on October 23 has been viewed more than 3.8 million times. In it, Benham, allegedly, of course, assaults a man wearing a pink shirt, calls him a “faggot,” and announces, “Queers! That’s what I’m upset about.”

WATCH: ‘This Is America!’ Homophobe Declares After Attacking Man He Called ‘Faggot’ In Airport

Immediately, bystanders, then police, take Benham down to the ground.

Once handcuffed, Benham claims he punched his victim in the face, and tells a person off-camera that “this is America, that’s why, the same reason you get to live and walk Black.”

“According to witnesses, Benham was verbally assaulting and being ‘belligerent’ toward a ticket agent at the airport before security arrived,” WFAA reports. “She reportedly asked him if he had been drinking and he replied, ‘Yes, 100 drinks.'”

UPDATE: 
John Wright at Lone Star Q reports Benham “is currently charged with public intoxication and simple assault, both class-C misdemeanors each punishable by a maximum $500 fine, but no jail time.”

However, if prosecutors choose to utilize Texas’ hate crimes law, they could enhance the assault charge to a class-B misdemeanor. Class-B misdemeanors are punishable by 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine per offense.

Joe Jervis adds, “Local activists should get loud.”

 

Watch, again:

 

Image via YouTube