Brooklyn, NY – A 26-year-old woman was attacked early Friday after leaving a bar in Bedford-Stuyvesant in what police are calling a suspected hate crime.
The victim was walking near 1104 Lafayette Avenue around 12:32 a.m. when a man began shouting anti-LGBTQIA+ remarks.
Moments later, the man punched her several times in the face and body before running off.
Key Points
- A 26-year-old woman was assaulted after being subjected to anti-LGBTQIA+ slurs in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
- The attacker fled west on Broadway and remains at large.
- The NYPD Hate Crime Task Force is leading the investigation.
Victim suffered minor injuries
Police said the victim sustained swelling and pain from the attack but declined medical treatment at the scene. Investigators believe the assault was motivated by bias based on the suspect’s verbal statements before the attack.
The incident occurred outside a neighborhood establishment shortly after midnight, when the suspect approached the woman as she exited the venue.
NYPD seeks public’s help
The suspect is described as a male with a dark complexion, last seen wearing a black baseball cap, white T-shirt, black sweatpants, and black sneakers.
Detectives with the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the NYPD website or mobile app.