SALT LAKE CITY — A fight outside a Salt Lake City hotel early Sunday morning could possibly be investigated as a hate crime, authorities said Monday.
Cell phone video captured a black man throw a punch at a Caucasian man who knocked him out. The fight was over an argument about a Confederate Flag decal on a truck parked at the Red Lion Hotel.
The truck belonged to Kelly Leeper’s friend. Leeper was in town for the Garth Brooks concert. On Sunday, he said looked out the window of his room at the Red Lion and saw a group of black men near his friend’s truck.
In the back of the truck, Leeper said there was $50,000 worth of welding equipment. There was also a Confederate Flag decal on the side.
“The point is it’s my right to drive what any kind of vehicle I want. If I want to fly the Confederate Flag, it’s my right,” Leeper said.
Leeper went to the parking lot with his friend and confronted the group. That’s when the fight turned violent.
In one fast and powerful punch, Leeper’s friend was knocked out. A scuffle ensued and Leeper was taken down by a group of six men.
“I’ll be damned if I ever come to Salt Lake again without bringing my gun,” Leeper said.
The fight was captured on cell phone video. The video has been turned over to Salt Lake City Police.