Police search for teen's attacker

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida teen was brutally beaten by another man at a gas station, and she says it was because of her sexual orientation.

Nineteen-year-old Nachrisha Cash has cuts, welts and bruises on her face after she said she was a victim of a vicious beating outside a gas station.

She believes she was targeted because of her sexual orientation. "Since I was little, people judged me, but I was always taught to brush it off, but now since this happened, you never know what someone can do," said Cash with tears in her eyes.

Cash, who is a college student, went with a friend to a Citgo gas station in Miami Gardens on Sunday to get a snack. Police said Cash had a dispute with the clerk when they would not allow the sale because there is a minimum purchase amount on the card.

At that point, a customer behind Cash got upset and followed her outside yelling derogatory comments about her sexual orientation. "When he came in my face he told me, 'Oh, you wanna be a dude? I'm gonna beat you like one,'" said Cash.

Miami Gardens Police Officer Bill Bamford said, "In this case, there were a lot of comments made about the victim's sexual orientation and her being gay, and that raises a lot of concerns here."

Cash's mother is very upset and wants the person caught. "My daughter is a good girl. She makes me very proud," she said. "She's an honor student, and she doesn't bother no one."

"This man beat me. It wasn't just a hit," said Cash. "He knew exactly what he was doing, and why he was doing it ... on purpose. He hurt me."

Police are trying to get the surveillance video from the gas station.

If you have any information on this beating, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

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