NEW YORK, NY – The New York City Police Department on Monday has agreed multiple attacks on a NYC gay bar show a hate crime pattern against the establishment, targeting it because of its affiliation to the LGBTQ community.

This decision comes after the department was criticized for initially downplaying the possible hate intent and after five people were shot and killed inside a Colorado gay bar.

After the Colorado incident and backlash from New Yorkers, the NYPD issued a statement calling the attacks a “criminal mischief hate crime pattern”.

They also posted a video of the assailant inside a nearby bodega.

🚨WANTED for CRIMINAL MISCHIEF HATE CRIME PATTERN: Have you seen this person? Between 11/13/22 and 11/19/22, the suspect threw a brick into the front window of the establishment, damaging it. Have any info? DM @NYPDTips, or anonymously call them at 800-577-TIPS. pic.twitter.com/F4u2cBZi5X

The bar has had bricks thrown at it three times now in a matter of weeks.

This weekend, VERS lounge, located at 714 Ninth Avenue in Manhattan, was targeted again. This time, a man looked into the window of the bar and then threw a brick at it. The window shattered, but nobody was injured inside.

The owner of the lounge isn’t letting the attacks scare him or his customers but says he is concerned about the response to the attacks by the New York City Police Department.

David DeParolesa, the owner of VERS feels his bar is being targeted because it is a gay bar, saying the attacks should be investigated as a hate crime.

Last night, a man threw a brick through the window at VERS while patrons were inside. This is the third time this has happened THIS WEEK! If anyone recognizes him or has any information, please let me know. pic.twitter.com/N1c8nQxiTO
— ryan (@thisismeryan13) November 20, 2022

He claims the NYPD isn’t so sure the attacks are motivated by hate against the LGBTQ+ community and said the department is trying to downplay the fact that it’s a gay bar being targeted. He says officers with the NYPD have told him it can’t be certain whether the attacks are hate-driven or not.

The NYPD did not respond to comment when asked about the incidents.

Instead, the NYPD is investigating ‘acts of criminal mischief’ at the bar.

After the latest attack, DeParolesa said he wasn’t going to be defeated by hate or the NYPD, saying he created a safe space for gay people in NYC and is now more emboldened than ever to keep it that way.

On Sunday night, he posted a pictured of the brick thrown at the window and the shattered window with a drink, urging his customers to “Come by and join us for a drink!”

This article was originally written by Adam Devine, Updated Monday night by Phil Stilton to include latest NYPD update.