19 Yr.Old Breaks into Neighbors Home Ties, Beats to Kill Him Because He is Gay

Ethan Dickerson, 19, arrested for hate crime and attempted murder.(25 News/Heart of Illinois ABC)

  

By Kyle Beachy

DECATUR (25 News) - A teenager in Decatur is behind bars after police said he broke into his neighbors home, tied him up, and tried to kill him.

19-year-old Ethan Dickerson is being held on a $1,000,000 bond for attempted murder, aggravated battery, unlawful restraint, home invasion, and a hate crime.

The teen was arrested Thursday just after 5:30 when a police officer broke down the door to home after hearing yelling coming from inside. The officer was responding to a call about a broken window and potential break-in.

According to the probable cause affidavit provided by NBC affiliate WAND, the victim was the 60-year-old neighbor of Dickerson who knew the teen. 

The arresting officer’s sworn statement said Dickerson had used duct tape over the victim's mouth, around his hands and feet, and bound him to a chair.

The officer saw the victim bleeding from multiple wounds, a pipe wrench on the ground surrounded by multiple pools of blood. In the court documents, the victim states he asked the teen “Why” he was doing this to him. The victim says Dickerson responded by saying, “You know why I have to do this. You’re gay. You’re evil... I’m going to kill you.”