Celeb hairstylist ends up in ICU after being beaten outside West Hollywood gay club in alleged hate crime

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA: Celebrity hairdresser Alberto Vasquez, who has worked in studios in Paris, New York, and Los Angeles, was found critically injured with a head injury in front of Heart Weho nightclub in West Hollywood’s Rainbow District. The incident occurred at approximately 8 pm on April 5.

Vasquez was left unattended for four hours before a passerby discovered him unconscious and called the police. Vasquez’s family believes he may have been viciously attacked because of his sexual orientation.

Alberto Vasquez's family fears he will never fully recover

Vasquez, 53, was viciously beaten and knocked unconscious as he made his way from the nightclub to the Gym Bar, where he was scheduled to meet up with friends. Vasquez spent more than a week in intensive care undergoing surgery to remove a portion of his skull to relieve swelling in his brain.

His family is concerned that he may never fully recover and worries that the perpetrator might harm other gay men. "We feel it's gay bashing,” sister Gloria Jimenez said as per the DailyMail.

She added, “'He did not get robbed. He's got injuries all over his body, his neck, we don't know if he'll ever be the same. He's the type of guy who wouldn't harm anyone. We know this for a fact, I mean he's harmless and to leave him almost for dead is awful.”

After being found unconscious and bleeding in the car lot near the nightclub by a bystander, he was rushed to Cedars Sinai Medical Center. However, it was five days before his family was able to locate him. They were able to do so after a nurse answered a call from his cell phone at the hospital. Jimenez claimed, “The punch to his face, you can tell it was on the eye, They fractured his skull around his eye socket.”

Alberto Vasquez raised over $47K on fundraising campaign

West Hollywood boasts that more than 40 per cent of its residents identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Established in 1984, the city has been at the forefront of progressive public policy for over 30 years, making it unique among small cities across the country.

Alberto Vasquez, known for his connections with Emmy Award winner Elisabeth Moss, has a GoFundMe page set up in his name, already raising $47,000 of its $50,000 goal. 

The administrator, Brett Foreman, speculates on the nature of the attack, “We do not know if he was randomly attacked by a stranger in what could be a homophobic or racist hate crime, or if he was attacked by someone he interacted with at one of the bars” 

Alberto was rushed to the hospital by EMS and has since been in critical condition, facing the prospect of multiple surgeries, potential brain damage, and a prolonged recovery period. While awaiting updates on his recovery, funds are being raised to cover his medical expenses and living costs, considering his inability to work for the foreseeable future.

 The investigation, led by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, has not yet identified any suspects. 

Michelle Hansen, the salon director at Pony Studios in Oakland, where Alberto worked, emphasizes the urgency of apprehending the attacker to prevent further harm to others. He added, “We need to find out who did this to our wonderful friend, brother, and uncle”

Internet saddened over heartbreaking attack on Alberto Vasquez

After knowing the brutal injury of hair stylist Alberto Vasquez, many flocked to the comments section to share their emotions and wishes for a speedy recovery.

One wrote, “America has become so hateful and cruel.”

Another claimed, “Very sad that this happened to him, but why do they automatically assume it was a hate crime? Did the killer leave some sort of message indicating that? It could have been a lot of things.”

The third wrote, “This is absolutely unacceptable. Police must arrest all of them and at least 10 years in prison. You cannot be soft on crime or the laws become meaningless. Set a harsh example.”

The fourth prayed, “ Heartbreaking. I hope he recovers.” meanwhile the last wrote, “Too much hatred in blue states!”

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