The FBI has launched a preliminary
investigation into whether the beating of a gay Savannah man
warrants federal charges as a hate crime. Two U.S. Marines
stationed in South Carolina have been charged with battery in
the beating of 26-year-old Kieran Daly. Police found him
unconscious on a downtown street corner early Saturday. FBI
spokesman Steve Emmett said Monday the agency is looking
into the case along with federal prosecutors. Savannah police
say witnesses told them one of the Marines had punched Daly
in the back of the head. They said the suspects accused Daly of winking at them. The Marines - Keil Cronauer and
Christopher Stanzel - told police they were trying to get away from a gay man who was harassing them. Both were arrested and
later released to military police.