A gay man was viciously attacked in Fort Collins, Colorado early Saturday morning by a man said to be interested in his female friend.

Steven Anthony Loranger, 33, was left with a broken nose, a broken orbital socket and a sprained abdominal wall. He also suffered various cuts, bruises and knots. The attack occurred just 50 miles from where Matthew Shepard’s murder took place.

On a GoFundMe campaign page set up by friend Shawny Marie, Loranger is described as having been beaten almost to death by a man she believes to be an ex-Marine “for no other reason than being a gay man and best friends with a young woman the suspect has an affinity for.”



“Steven does not have even one defensive wound,” states Marie, “meaning he was unconscious and completely helpless.”

Marie wrote that she believes Loranger regained consciousness when his attacker went to grab a weapon and that he escaped through the back door, hiding until he was able to get to a hospital.

Marie is now asking for help paying Loranger medical fees.

“Steven needs surgery and is missing work,” she writes. “His medical expenses have already overwhelmed him and he is very concerned about paying his medical bills and regular bills during his extended recovery.”

Loranger’s attacker has reportedly been arrested. It’s possible he’ll be charged under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.