Man Attacked In Salisbury In What Police Call Ethnic Intimidation

A young man is being held in the Rowan County Correctional Facility accused in the mob-style beating of a 47-year-old who was simply taking an evening stroll in his neighborhood.

Matthew Dwyer's eyes are blackened, his forehead stitched up and his arms scraped up. He said he was beaten by nine black teenagers.

Salisbury police said it was a racially motivated and gang-motivated crime. Dwyer is white.

Dwyer said it all started when one of his assailants said he wasn't allowed on the street, and then Dwyer was hit in the back of the head with a gun.

"And that's what sent me to the ground. That's how I got this (bump on my forehead). I hit the ground with my head, and then after that they just started kicking me," he said.

The constant kicking broke several of Dwyer's ribs. He said he doesn't know how long the beating went on, but he did hear someone say police were coming and that's when his attackers ran away.

Salisbury Deputy Police Chief Steve Whitley said the teens were wearing gang colors and are part of a well-known gang in east Salisbury.

"This adds to their notoriety and reputation amongst other hoodlums, and it's our job to ferret them out and we are actively about that,” he said.

Police arrested the teen who they believe is the gang leader and started the beating. His name is Marlon Barber, but he goes by "Murda."

Dwyer said he just doesn’t understand.

"What did they get out of it? I got nine stitches, broken ribs and a busted face over something stupid, because they don't want me walking down ‘their’ street,” he said.

Barber is charged with assault with a deadly weapon and ethnic intimidation. Police said the investigation is ongoing and they expect to make more arrests.