MILLSTONE BAR BRAWL INJURES THREE - Family Calls Incident 'Gay Bashing'

(11/29/2011)
A brawl injured three people attending Karaoke Night at the Millstone Inn early Sunday morning, after customers attacked 36-year-old Steven Long of Cincinnati, Ohio, then attacked his mother, Shirley Ball, 63, of Grantsville and his aunt, Carolyn Newrones, 70, of Mantua, Ohio.

The attack started on Long, a gay man, (pictured left) inside the bar and continued in the parking lot for several minutes, causing head trauma, face fractures, and a broken foot.

Ball said at least three males continuously beat and kicked him in the parking lot.

During the ambulance trip to Roane General Hospital in Spencer, Long reportedly quit breathing for a period of time.

When the individuals were ordered out of the bar, according to Ball, the male subjects shoved, kicked and spit on her and 70-year-old Newrones, who suffered a severe fracture and broken joint in her arm with multiple bruises.

Ball said she was trampled by the subjects and lost consciousness briefly when her head hit concrete, after which she locked herself in a truck and used OnStar to contact 911.

"They kept beating on the truck, trying to get in," Ball said.

Ball described the incident as "gay bashing," which she says could easily have claimed the victim's life.

"I'm extremely sad to find that people whom I've known for such a long time in my life and whom I've gone to high school with could do such a horrendous crime," said Long's sister, Melissa.

The WV State Police are investigating. Arrests have yet to be made over the incident.

The WV State Police, Grantsville Detachment, does not release public information locally about incidents.

See related story   PERSON REPORTEDLY TRAMPLED UNCONSCIOUS DURING FIGHT AT MILLSTONE INN - Police, Ambulances, Fire Dept. Responds Early Sunday, One Person Taken To Hospital