North Carolina man assaults LGBT bar owner, upset over same-sex marriage ruling

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A Wake County man has been charged with assault after police say he entered an LGBT bar, angrily criticized the Supreme Court’s ruling legalizing same-sex marriage and then slapped the owner.

The Charlotte Observer reports Mecklenburg County jail records show 21-year-old Lucas Dylan Wilhelmson, of Holly Springs, was charged with simple assault and with communicating threats in the incident which took place June 28 at The Bar at 316, which caters to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police spokesman Rob Tufano says Wilhelmson walked into the bar and started “calling out people using derogatory terms.” Tufano says after being asked to leave and escorted to the door, Wilhelmson began slapping the bar’s owner.

Wilhelmson was released on bail. It’s not clear if he has an attorney.

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