Police Arrest 2 in String of Dallas Gayborhood Attacks, Suspect Says He's Innocent

A teenage suspect accused of being involved in a string of alleged anti-gay attacks in a Dallas gayborhood said he is innocent, adding he feels sorry "for the homosexual" victims and that his mother dated a trans person, Dallas Morning Star reports.

It was reported in the fall that a number of gay men in Oak Lawn, a gay neighborhood in Dallas, were the victims of attacks, which started in September. In October, it was reported police were amping up security in the area. Nevertheless, two more men were attacked and robbed in November. Several victims shared similar stories, explaining where they were physically and verbally assaulted with the attackers using gay slurs. Most of the men were also robbed which occurred after the men left local gay bars and clubs.

The Dallas Morning Star reports Deon Fridia and Donedwin Maxie, both 18, were arrested Sunday after allegedly carjacking a woman at gunpoint near Oak Lawn. Police believe the teens are responsible for the string of attacks in the area.

Towleroad reports Fridia's mother claims he was incarcerated during the time when many of the attacks were carried out, however.

Dallas Morning News obtained an audio recording of Fridia's jail interview where he calls the accusations "bull," says he feels "sorry for them homosexuals" and claims his "momma used to go with a transgender."

"It's just a bunch of bull, and I need justice, sir, and I feel sorry for them homosexuals that got, you know, beat up or whatever and robbed, because I got a lot of gay people ... lesbian and gay, in my family," he said. "My momma used to go with a transgender, so if I had problems with them, I would have beat my momma's ex up, and I never would have had a relationship like I had. ... We had a great relationship, sir."

He also said in the interview that he wasn't involved in the carjacking, blaming the incident on Maxie.

"They got the wrong person," he said. "I'm a very outgoing individual. I'm a people's person ... There is not a bone in my body or a nerve in my system that would rob another person. It's not me."

He added he didn't know Maxie was planning on robbing anyone and felt like he was tricked. He also confessed he and Maxie were smoking K2, a synthetic marijuana.

"He is really nothing to me now," Fridia said. "To put me in this situation, he's dead to me."

Both men are currently in Dallas County jail in lieu of $75,000 bail, the Dallas Morning Star reports.

You can listen to the interview by via SoundCloud by clicking here.