Teen Attempts To Kill Neighbor Using Pipe Wrench Because He's Gay: Police

A 19-year-old in Illinois was arrested last week for breaking into his 60-year-old neighbor's home and attempting to kill him because the neighbor is gay, police said.

Ethan Dickerson faces preliminary charges of hate crime, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated unlawful restraint and home invasion for the attack, which took place on Feb. 17 in Decatur, about 180 miles south of Chicago, Herald & Review reported.

Police were called to a home on Delray Court on the afternoon of Feb. 17 on a report of a broken window and a potential break-in, according to an affidavit.

A responding officer saw the broken window and heard an individual's voice from inside calling for help.

The officer then broke down the door and saw Dickerson covered in blood. The teen immediately drop to his knees to be taken into custody, the affidavit said.

The victim, whose name was not disclosed, was in the kitchen with multiple lacerations to his head and covered in a "significant" amount of blood, police said.

A pipe wrench was found on the ground, while strands of duct tape, covered in blood, were on a chair and the floor, according to police.

The victim told police he heard glass shatter and allegedly saw Dickerson enter his home through a window.

The man alleged that Dickerson then began hitting him on his face, head and body with the wrench while saying, "You know why I have to do this. ... You're gay. ... You're evil ... I'm going to kill you," according to the affidavit.

The teen then duct-taped the victim's wrists, forced him into a chair and continued beating him, the victim alleged.

At one point, the victim was able to free himself when Dickerson left for a while to get a "cake." A struggle ensued when Dickerson returned, and the teen allegedly got behind the victim, put the wrench across his neck and choked him.

The struggle continued until the officer arrived.

The victim was immediately transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, which required multiple stitches.

Dickerson appeared in court Friday for a bond hearing, WCIA-TV reported. The teen's bail has been set at $1 million.

It was unclear if Dickerson had legal representation.