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Several twenty-something's photographed near the scene of a brutal attack on a gay couple in Philadelphia last week turned themselves in for police questioning last night. But what they said was a surprise, alleging on of the gay men threw the first punch.

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There was a major break yesterday in the case of a gay couple that was brutally beaten simply while walking together on a street in Philadelphia last Thursday. Several twenty-somethings photographed near the scene turned themselves in for police questioning last night. But what they said was a surprise.

NBC10 in Philadelphia reports that defense attorneys who represent some of the suspects claim one of the beating victims threw the first punch. In addition, those defense attorneys tell NBC10 more video exists that will paint a different picture of what happened.

All this differs with the account of witnesses, the victims and police, who insist that the group of twenty-something males asked the two male victims if they were a couple. When the gay men told them they were, the group allegedly attacked the couple while screaming homophobic slurs at them, NBC10 reports.

Members of the group allegedly punched and kicked the 27- and 28-year-old victims in the face, head and chest, while others stood by and watched, according to NBC10.

Police have yet to issue arrest warrants for the suspects and the investigation continues.

In another development that members of the gay community find troubling, the case is no longer being treated as a hate crime. According to NBC10, Philadelphia Police initially said they were investigating the beating as a hate crime. On Wednesday however, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office told NBC10 Pennsylvania's hate crime law doesn't cover crimes motivated by a person's sexual orientation.

Background: The Philadelphia Police Department released surveillance video Tuesday showing a group of intoxicated twenty-somethings walking near the intersection of 16th and Chancellor streets, just south of Walnut Street, around 10:45 p.m. Thursday – only moments before a gay couple was assaulted.

Social media then helped identify and smoke out the suspects, who then decided to turn themselves in for questioning.

What do you think about the alleged attackers in the case trying to blame the gay couple who were victims in the beating?

And what do you make of the sudden turnabout on whether this was a hate crime?

Tell us.