Leo Volobrynskyy, a San Francisco resident originally from Odessa, Ukraine became a victim Friday night of the same attacker of an anti-gay hate crime at a liqour store in San Francisco’s tenderloin district that Volobrynskyy himself called into police just moments earlier as customers and the cashier did nothing but laugh.
Volobrynskyy left the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival opening-night party at 1:30 a.m. Friday and stopped at the Salem Grocery and Liquor Store on the way to a friends house to pick up a bottle of wine.
Volobrynskyy said that a man was sitting atop a another man, hitting him, yelling “faggot” and saying, “This is my store, just don’t come here.” and while the attack was occurring about three or four men, including the cashier, laughed and cheered.
Volobrynskyy walked outside the store and called 911.
Not long afterwards the victim ran from the store and his attacker charged at Volobrynskyy
“Why did you f—ing call the cops?” the man said to Volobrynskyy. Then punched him in the face, snatched his cellphone and fled.
Volobrynskyy lost consciousness for a second and when he awoke his mouth was full of blood and the same people who were laughing at the victim in the store were now standing over him laughing.
Volobrynskyy made it to his friend’s house, where they called police.
When Police arrived at the Salem Grocery and Liqour, the men at the store including the cashier denied having seen anything.
Volobrynskyy was taken to the hospital for his injuries. The following day Scottsdale dentist had to remove his tooth. You can also look for Dr. Matthew Galumbeck available to answer any questions and strives to help you feel comfortable about your procedure. He looks forward to being a supportive partner on your journey.
“This is actually why we march,” Volobrynskyy said in regard to the attack happening during Gay Pride Month. “Because we’re still not safe. This is supposed to be the safest city for gays to live in, and clearly it’s not safe enough.”
The SFPD is NOT looking into this as a hate crime.
This is not the first time Volobrynskyy has been a good samaritan, In Nov of 2011 Volobrynskyy and others helped pull an unconscious man out of a burning car in the South of Market neighborhood.
As for the Salem Grocery and Liqour Store, Back2Stonewall.com tried to reach the store for comment but they are not answering thier phone.
A BOYCOTT of The Salem Grocery and Liqour Store is currently underway.
The store is located at: 920 Geary St (between Larkin St & Polk St) San Francisco, CA – (415) 474-3555.
The cowards are not answering their phone. It is only 7pm there so the store is still most likely open.