Palm Springs have arrested a man in connection with a suspected hate crime assault on a married couple in Palm Springs that took place on November 1st.
Police announced the arrest of 35-year-old Keith Terranova of Palm Springs on suspicion four felonies: elder abuse, battery with serious injury, assault with a deadly weapon, and committing a hate crime. Police also said they are still looking for a second suspect.
On November 1st, George and Chris Zander were assaulted after leaving Hunters Nightclub in Palm Springs. The Desert Sun breaks down the incident:
Police said that a preliminary investigation determined that as the Zanders walked along South Calle Encilia between Arenas and Tahquitz Canyon Way they encountered a man who uttered a gay slur at them, and that a “brief physical altercation” ensued between the man and one of the Zanders. This tussle soon broke apart and the Zanders and the man went their separate ways, police said.
A few moments later the man returned in a car driven by a second male suspect. Police said the two suspects then attacked the Zanders, who had reached the corner of Tahquitz Canyon Way. During the beating, the second suspect uttered another gay slur at the Zanders and then both men fled in the vehicle, police said.
George Zander suffered a leg injury during the attack and his husband suffered a head injury.
“This was a very serious crime and an insult to the community we serve,” Palm Springs police Lt. Mike Kovaleff told The Desert Sun a short time after the crime.
Anyone with information on the attack is asked to call the Palm Springs Police Department at (760) 323-8116.
