HATE HOAX: Man who claimed to be victim of San Diego gay bashing that left him with burns actually was the perpetrator of beating of pregnant woman, police say

It has been revealed that a gay man who claimed to have been beaten and set on fire by a group of homophobes actually sustained his injuries while attacking a pregnant woman.

Scott Rowin, 39, originally alleged that he had been "gay bashed" while walking in his San Diego neighborhood, a story that was parroted by the media and local Antifa networks. CCTV footage, however, showed that he was torched by the expecting mother as she defended herself from his violent actions, which landed her in the hospital with injuries.

According to the San Diego Police Department, the incident took place on June 12 on the 900 block of 6th Avenue around 10:40 pm. Officers responded to numerous 911 calls reporting a man beating up a pregnant woman, however when they arrived, he had already fled the scene, ABC 10 reported.

Just under two hours later, a man called 911 reporting that he had been set on fire, and it was quickly determined that he was the suspect wanted for the aforementioned beating, and that she had burned him.

In the days since the attack, investigators have tracked down CCTV footage revealing the "initial physical assault by the man on the pregnant woman and the subsequent use of fire as a weapon by the pregnant woman on the man." The man was identified as Rowin.
 

"This is a complex investigation, and detectives are examining all aspects and allegations," the SDPD said. 

Rowin told local news outlet KGTV following the attack that he had been simply walking home when he heard two people shouting homophobic slurs. He yelled back, and claimed he was subsequently set on fire.

"Immediately after that, I went up kind of like coals on a barbecue," he claimed. "Instantly just went into flames ... Nobody walks around with flammable liquid like without an agenda. They were obviously out targeting LGBT community."

Rowin suffered second-degree burns, and the pregnant woman he allegedly assaulted was taken to hospital to be treated for her injuries.

Following the incident, a number of people on Twitter came to Rowin's defense, claiming that the "hate crime" was proof that gay men were no longer safe in America.