MGM Detroit Security ‘Did Nothing’ as LGBTQ+ Woman Beaten in Alleged Hate Crime

• MGM Detroit security allegedly failed to intervene in a hate attack
• Victim needed 30 stitches after brutal assault
• Suspect faces felony and hate crime enhancement charges

A Texas man is facing felony assault charges after he allegedly punched a woman unconscious in an apparent homophobic attack and continued to beat her as she lay on the ground outside the MGM Grand Detroit. Despite witnessing the assault, casino security did nothing to intervene, according to witnesses.

William Wilson, 26, of Fort Worth, allegedly attacked Celia Haueter because she was holding hands with her fiancée, Chelsi Way. The couple had attended a concert at the casino as part of Way’s 30th birthday celebrations. Haueter was taken to a local hospital, where she received 30 stitches to her face.

Michigan law allows prosecutors to add hate crime enhancements to ordinary criminal counts when a suspect uses “force or violence” or “causes bodily injury,” and there’s evidence the act was motivated by bias against a protected group – in this instance LGBTQ+ people. A first-time hate-enhanced assault comes with up to five years in prison.

Homophobic Slurs

Haueter and Way had attended the concert with Haueter’s brother, David Supal, and his fiancé, Zach Chearhart, on July 12. In the early hours of July 13, as the group made its way to the parking valet, they were approached by two clearly intoxicated men, one of whom was Wilson.

“We’ve never been personally targeted and attacked,” Way told CBS News. “We kind of all looked at each other, and we were like, ‘This is weird.’”

Then one of the men began to verbally abuse Way using homophobic slurs, according to the group.

“As soon as he said that, then my brother kind of grabbed me,” Way said. “I’m on blood thinner; I have two blood clots in my lungs. He was worried about my safety.”

When Haueter intervened to ask the men to leave them alone, Wilson allegedly hit her. Then he hit her again as she tried to get back up.

I threw my body in front of her, cause I seen the haymakers he was throwing. I took about 3-4 shots,” Supal said.

Wilson then walked away from the scene while bystanders and security staff looked on. Way followed him at a distance and called 911. Police later located and arrested Wilson.

‘Protect the People’

The group says they are deeply disappointed by what they describe as inaction by MGM security staff, which they believe could have prevented or stopped the attack.

If security is there, I don’t know what they’re there for, maybe to protect MGM, but they’re not there to protect the people,” Way told WXYZ Detroit.

Information reviewed by Casino.org indicates that front valet employees observed the altercation at 1:13am, contacted security and called 911. At 1:14 a.m., security arrived and began assisting with medical care. Emergency responders, including police and paramedics, appear to have arrived shortly afterward.

Casino.org reached out to the MGM Grand Detroit for comment and was told to contact the Detroit Police Department regarding the investigation. The casino has told other news outlets that it is cooperating with police.

Editor’s Note (July 23, 2025): After this story was published, Casino.org reviewed additional information regarding the timeline of the incident from security footage. This information has been incorporated into the story. Some aspects differ from witness accounts included in the original reporting.