A Portland woman said her brother was injured Sunday evening in an unprovoked attack after a man repeatedly uttered homophobic slurs at them.

Katelin Durnal said she, her cousin, her brother and his girlfriend were walking past the man as he was camping in a vacant storefront near Northwest 21st Avenue and Everett Street when he apparently keyed in on her and her cousin's rainbow-colored attire.

The group had attended the Pride Parade in downtown Portland hours earlier. Durnal said she was wearing a rainbow crown, ribbon and rainbow-colored nails. The group was leaving dinner when the man sitting in the storefront yelled a slur at them.

"We didn't hear what he said at first, so we turned toward him," said Durnal, 25. "Within seconds he was on his feet, in my brother's face and punching him."

Durnal said the man hit and choked her brother, the only male in their group and kept saying the slur. The man also yelled, "have a gay day," as he punched and elbowed him, Durnal said.

Durnal said none of them identify as LGBTQ, but the group had gone to the parade as allies of the community and to celebrate with friends.

"We were shocked," she said. "We did nothing to him, but it was clear he was reacting this way because he perceived us as gay."

Durnal said the man grabbed her as she helped pull him off her brother. She pushed him away.

As Durnal narrated what was happening to a 911 dispatcher, he gathered his belongings and began to walk away. Durnal said she followed him, staying about half a block behind as he briskly walked away.

The man kept repeating homophobic slurs and was upset 911 had been called, Durnal said. Police caught up to them near Northwest 19th Avenue and Flanders Street and arrested him.

Durnal said the officers told her they'd been looking for the man because he was suspected in two other attacks in the area that weekend. Police identified him as Justin Watling, 25.

Watling was booked Sunday into the Multnomah County Detention Center on suspicion of second-degree intimidation, fourth-degree assault and attempted strangulation, jail records show. He was released Monday. The intimidation accusation is a bias crime offense in Oregon.

Court records show Watling described himself to court staff at the jail as homeless for seven years and living in the Portland area for a little more than a year. He reported being diagnosed with schizophrenia and not having medication.

Durnal said her brother was sore, but not badly hurt. The blows mostly landed on the side of his head, she said. She said she's glad the damage wasn't worse and glad Watling was arrested.

"His use of that language around us was disturbing, but he could have attacked anyone without warning and that's what's really troubling," Durnal said. "I'm hoping he gets the help he needs so other people aren't put in danger."

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com

503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey