Two same-sex couples are seeking justice following an alleged hate crime outside MGM Grand Detroit earlier this month. Chelsi Way, her wife Celia Haueter, and another couple were reportedly attacked by William James Wilson, 26, after a night out in downtown Detroit. According to CBS News Detroit, Wilson of Fort Worth has been charged with multiple counts including assault with intent to do great bodily harm and hate crime using force or physical injury.
The incident took place around 1 a.m. on July 13, after the couples returned from a concert and were waiting for their car from the MGM valet. Way alleges that two men approached them and one, later identified as Wilson, used homophobic slurs before physically assaulting Haueter. The altercation sparked concern among the victims about the security measures in place at the venue, particularly when they pleaded for help and were seemingly ignored, as reported by ClickonDetroit. "You guys have a responsibility to provide security. We asked for help, and no one came. We felt uncomfortable," Way claimed, as per a report by CBS News Detroit.
During the assault, Haueter was knocked unconscious and subsequently required more than 20 stitches for her injuries. As mentioned by FOX 2 Detroit, a witness described seeing the victim's eyes wide open after she fell face-first onto the concrete, highlighting the severity of the attack. Further exacerbating the couples' frustration, MGM Grand Detroit directed all queries to the Detroit Police Department, providing no comment on the incident or their security protocols.
Despite the physical and emotional toll of the attack, the couples noted that they felt supported in the legal process. "The detective and prosecutor have been great in this process," Way said, as stated by ClickonDetroit. Wilson, who was released on a $100,000 bond, is expected back in court for further proceedings in late August. As for the second man involved, his identity remains unknown, and he has yet to be apprehended.
