A marcher holds a gay pride flag during the march for Mark Carson, who was killed in an apparent homophobic attack in the West Village three days ago. Credit: Aaron Adler
UPDATE: Cops are looking into a beating in the East Village last night that might be another hate-motivated attack.
The information at this time is limited, but a law enforcement source reported that both the victim and the suspect are residents in a homeless shelter in the East Village. The two reportedly were out for drinks and pizza together, and on the walk back to the shelter talked about the victim being gay.
The victim reportedly told police that outside the shelter, the suspect mumbled anti-gay slurs and beat him up. The victim told police he was knocked unconscious and treated at a hospital.
The Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.
Yesterday, before a vigil and march in the West Village against hate crimes, it was announced that police presence will be increased in the areas in Manhattan that have seen a spate of hate crimes over the last few weeks.
While the total number of bias incidents in down by about 29 percent from last year, anti-gay attacks have nearly doubled, according to police data. There have so far been at least 25 anti-gay incidents, including this SoHo attack, compared to 14 anti-gay incidents by this time last year.
Metro’s original story is below.
Early Tuesday morning, another hate crime occurred in downtown Manhattan, just days after a man was shot in the head by another man shouting homophobic slurs in the West Village.
Two men were walking up Broadway in SoHo at 5:20 a.m. when two other men started shouting anti-gay slurs at them, police said.
They were reportedly shouting “pato” and “maricon,” Spanish slurs used against black and gay people. They also reportedly called them, in English, “f—ing faggots.”
The shouting developed into a physical confrontation, and the two aggressors punched one of the victims repeatedly in the face, causing swelling and cuts around his right eye.
Police arrested two suspects in the area shortly after. The suspects, Fabian Ortiz, 32, and Pedro Jimenez, 23, are being charged with assault as a hate crime, which is a felony.
While the total number of bias incidents in down by about 29 percent from last year, anti-gay attacks have nearly doubled. There have so far been at least 25 anti-gay incidents, including this SoHo attack, compared to 14 anti-gay incidents by this time last year.
Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat
