Trevor Gray was beaten so severely his jaw was broken in two places. His family believes the 28-year-old was beaten because his attackers thought he was gay.

Gray said he's not angry about what happened. Instead, he said, he wants to use the experience to encourage others.

"For as long as I can remember, my family has taught me to see the best in others," he wrote in an email to the Clarion Ledger. "My peace in this situation comes from that. So, for those wondering, I’m not angry or vengeful; I’m not sad. I’m optimistic. The events of that night are small when weighed against the incredible amount of love and support people have shown me."

'Hoping to make new friends'

A native of Waynesboro, Gray moved back to Wayne County a few months ago after living in Jackson for several years. With a signature smile, Gray is known for striking up a conversation from anyone "6 to 60"— he can't go in a gas station without talking to the attendant — and "may not dress or talk like everyone else from small towns in the south," said his brother, Cruz Gray.

So, Friday night, in hopes of making new friends, Trevor Gray went out to a local bar.

Landon McCaa, 32, and Toman Sion Brown, 28, were two of the patrons at the bar. When it closed at 2 a.m., McCaa invited the entire bar back to his house, Wayne County Sheriff Jody Ashley previously said.

Gray went along, by himself. Two hours later, Gray was running away from the house, broken and bleeding.

McCaa and Brown have each been charged with aggravated assault, a felony. Ashley previously said the charges could be upgraded to a hate crime and asked the FBI to assist in the investigation. He did not elaborate on why the charges could be a possible hate crime.

However, Cruz Gray said when his brother was being beaten, Brown called him "queer."

Under Mississippi law, penalties may be subject to enhancement if the felony or misdemeanor was committed because of the victim’s actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, national origin or gender. Federal law includes the victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or disabilities.

"He's not gay, but it wouldn't matter if he were," Cruz Gray. "No one deserves for this to happen to them."

A video of what appears to be McCaa repeatedly punching Gray was widely circulated on social media. At their initial appearance Wednesday afternoon, McCaa blamed the incident on alcohol while Brown blamed it on a "feud," Ashley said.

Both received a $500,000 bond.

'This could not have happened to a kinder person'

But to Gray's family, the idea that he was involved in a feud is difficult to imagine.

"He has never had a cross word with anybody in this community," Cruz Gray said. "If you talk to anyone, literally anyone that knows Trevor, this could not have happened to a kinder person, that's what's so crazy. He would sacrifice of himself to ensure that his worst enemy doesn't go without."

Trevor Gray's jaw is currently wired shut. Cruz Gray, an attorney in Laurel, spoke largely on his brother's behalf. In a detailed account, Cruz Gray said his brother was blindsided by the attack.

"This was an act of cruelty for no reason, because he was different," Gray said. "He thought Landon was going to shake his hand and was assaulted for 30 seconds or a minute, that's what so shocking about it, that first sucker punch," Cruz Gray said. "The second and third punch, you've crossed a line but when the 10th or 15th or 20th, what's the thought process? What are you trying to do?"

'Run! Just go!'

When the group left the bar, Gray drove himself to McCaa's house. Several people had gathered and the group hung out together, drinking, for a couple of hours. People were inside McCaa's house and outside, under a carport. Gray left the carport to use the restroom. While he was gone, based on the statements McCaa and Brown made in court, Cruz Gray said, "one of the guys there decided he didn't like him, that he was getting on his nerves."

McCaa, Cruz Gray believes, "had no reason to attack" Trevor Gray.

"I think he was acting on the incitement of other people there," he said.

In the video, shot under the carport, someone says the name "Trevor." A man who appears to be McCaa says to the camera "Are y'all ready?" When Gray walks under the carport, the man appearing to be McCaa walks up to him and says, "What's up, bro?" Gray smiles and gives him a head nod. An instant later, Gray is punched in the face. The remainder of the video shows Gray getting incessantly beaten. At one point, a man who appears to be McCaa is on top of a motionless Gray, pummeling him. He's punched in the face at least 17 times. No one comes to his aide.

The video ends as a man in an orange shirt approaches.

Ashely said after the video ended, Brown began beating Gray.

Cruz Gray said, to his understanding, Brown approached his brother and reached out his hand, as if to to help him up. When Gray grabbed Brown's left hand, Cruz Gray said, Brown punched him with his right hand.

As the beating continued a man who was inside the home ran outside, pulling the two men off Gray. He told him "Run! Just go! Leave!" while he held the two men back, Cruz Gray said.

The aftermath

Trevor Gray ran to his car and was able to drive himself home. Cruz Gray thinks his brother was able to run to his car by sheer adrenaline. Once at home, he sat on his couch for hours, in shock and in and out of consciousness.

Then, he took a photo of himself and sent it to his brother. Cruz Gray awoke to the text and first thought it was a joke. He assumed his brother had used an app to modify a picture of his face.

But then he read the text: "I got invited out to this house and these two guys just jumped on me and beat me and I don't know what to do. I think I have some broken bones."

Cruz Gray called his brother. Once he heard his voice, he knew "he was in some real pain." Trevor Gray couldn't form words and couldn't see well. Cruz Gray said he told his brother to get to the hospital immediately.

"I know that sounds crazy that he didn't go to the hospital but Trevor is the kind of person who would feel like he inconvenienced somebody by going to the hospital," Cruz Gray said.

Once at the hospital, doctors discovered Gray's jaw was broken in two places. He underwent surgery and his mouth has since been wired shut. Thankfully, Cruz Gray said, a CT scan came back clear. Trevor Gray should not have any lifelong physical injuries.

A GoFundMe for Gray has currently raised $12,500.

'Smiling on the inside'

The entire incident has, obviously, left Trevor Gray shaken, his brother said.

"He doesn't have a cynical bone in his body," Cruz Gray said. "It was just really hurtful for him emotionally what happened...there are still those moments where he just kind of stares off and you know he's thinking about what happened."

In an emailed statement to The Clarion Ledger, Trevor Gray said, "It’s hard to describe my feelings about what happened.

"Thinking about it, seeing the images of it, I don’t and will likely never understand it," he wrote. "All I know for sure is that it won’t change who I am. There is always a bright side, always positive in any situation. I have always believed this, maybe to a fault, but that’s just who I am. The outreach I’ve received in response to these events proves that point."

Trevor Gray wrote that the "love and support" that's been shown "has encouraged me, and I hope this update has encouraged you."

He added, "My mouth will be wired up for the next several weeks, so if you see me and I don't smile, know that I'm smiling on the inside. Most importantly, believe in the good, give someone a hug, and stay positive."

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Contact Sarah Fowler at 601-961-7303 or sfowler@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.