Deaf man gets beat down for using sign language

[nosebleed.]

Associated Press
Misunderstood Hand Signs Trigger Brawl

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -
A brawl involving five men apparently began over a misunderstanding when a man who is deaf and mute was communicating through sign language and another man took offense, thinking that the hand gestures were disrespectful. Police say what resulted was a brawl in which a gun was fired Sunday outside a pizza store in east Anchorage.

Raymond Keith McWain, 26, had just turned a corner in his car when he noticed a truck with three men alongside his car. The deaf man was communicating with the other two in the truck through sign language, police said.

McWain thought the sign language gestures were some sort of slight or "disrespect" toward him, police said. He made some gestures of his own and honked and cut in front of the truck before pulling into the pizza store. The men in the truck followed.

In the parking lot, McWain and the three men from the truck began pushing and shoving, police said. McWain's cousin, Daniel Harris (nyse: HRS - news - people ), 20, who works at the pizza store, came out and began beating the deaf man as the deaf man's companions pummeled McWain.

Multiple shots were fired from at least one gun.

Police are looking into whether Harris pistol-whipped the deaf man. A shot might have gone off then, police spokesman Paul Honeman said.

The men from the truck left the parking lot.

When police arrived they found McWain lying in the parking lot bleeding heavily from his head and upper body, Honeman said. At first police thought he'd been shot, but it turned out his injuries were from being beaten and kicked. McWain was taken to a local hospital where he was listed in fair condition.

The deaf man also went to a hospital later that night for treatment.

Police found Harris crying, crouched near the front counter inside the pizza store, court documents said.

The only man arrested was Harris, who was charged with possession of methamphetamine. When police searched Harris they found several plastic baggies of meth, a glass pipe and $4,691 in his pockets, court documents said.

Harris' bail was set at $15,000. According to a public database, he has no prior convictions in Alaska. The investigation into the fight and gunshots is ongoing

What are they smoking up in Alaska??

 

[terry78]

Morg, I think it's time to become Deafman, the classic superhero for the hearing impaired.

 

[Kaboom]

so wait a guy is in a truck A and sees a deaf guy gesturing to people in truck B. SO driver of truck A takes offense to that?

?????

 

[Shuley]

It's called "lack of Intelligence" The gunman was too stupid to realize the man was deaf and had to use sign language.

 

[rdh007]

Deafman vs. Hearoh (get it? anyone? is this thing on?) could be the next AvP...

 

[Mr. Spock 2000]

The human race is very ilogical.

 

[Kaboom]

and he didnt realize when he walked up and was like "Wtf"

and the people responded with "i'm deaf"

 

[SoulManX]

Moral of the story is...if your deaf stay the hell out of Alaska

 

[The Lizard]

Too many Alaskan men are angry and frustrated all the time due to the lack of women up there.

 

[odiin]

To be fair, it's his own damn fault for being deaf. This is America, and we use our ears here, if you don't like then you can turn right around and go back to where you came from.

 

[The Lizard]

^ The Republic of Deafoslovia?

 

[SoulManX]

To be fair, it's his own damn fault for being deaf. This is America, and we use our ears here, if you don't like then you can turn right around and go back to where you came from.

Wow.Just.Wow

 

[Katraleruyo]

so now the deaf must wear a tee that says they're deaf or something? how stupid can the man with all the senses working get?!

 

[jaguarr]

Alaska may be the only state that's got a higher per capita ratio of stone cold crazy people than Texas.

jag

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

The Scarlet Earmuffs?

 

[Morg]

To be fair, it's his own damn fault for being deaf. This is America, and we use our ears here, if you don't like then you can turn right around and go back to where you came from.

That better be a joke

 

[Kaboom]

To be fair, it's his own damn fault for being deaf. This is America, and we use our ears here, if you don't like then you can turn right around and go back to where you came from.

is it your fault for being........doooh duh doooh?

 

[rdh007]

It's about time some brave soul takes a stand against the non-hearing scourge. Now all we need is Tek Jansen to save us.

 

[odiin]

It's about time some brave soul takes a stand against the non-hearing scourge. Now all we need is Tek Jansen to save us.

I AM WITH THIS MAN.

This man, I am with him.

 

[Spider-Fett]

What are they smoking up in Alaska??

Apparently Meth.

Am I the only person who is focusing on the fact that 4 men beat 2 men to death for "making hand gestures" and "disrespecting" as opposed to the fact that one of the men was deaf?

How ignorant do you have to be, to kick the crap out of anybody for making "hand gestures" unless he's giving you the bird, there aren't many other hand gestures I can think of that would be considered disrespectfull.

 

[terry78]

Some people just need an excuse. There was a time you bumped into someone on accident and even said you were sorry they were still ready to fight.

 

[GunBlade]

Morg, I think it's time to become Deafman, the classic superhero for the hearing impaired.

Couldn't be ignored.

 

[Kaboom]

Some people just need an excuse. There was a time you bumped into someone on accident and even said you were sorry they were still ready to fight.

i remember those days.

some people will always be looking to engage in fisticuffs.

in this day and age, people escalate immediately to gunsknifes to prove they are a "bigger man". its better to let someone think they "showed you" rather than risk getting shot/stabbed/etc.

 

[AhabTheArab]

those deaf people, they need to learn to not gesture so rudely... this was all because of someone cutting someone else off. if driving is really potentially going to ruin your day like this, please stay off the road. you dont have the mental fortitude to brush off someone who cut you off. and damn, almost 5 grand in Alaska selling meth? impressive.

 

[Jack Rabbit]

Mooooooooorg!