New York: Police say man shot in Greenwich Village was victim of homophobic hate crime
The shooting of a man in New York City’s Greenwich Village early on Saturday has been called an anti-gay hate crime by the police commissioner.
The Associated Press reports that a gunman shot victim Marc Carson, 32, at point blank range after subjecting him to homophobic language.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said the gunman’s movements before the crime began with urinating on a street corner in Greenwich Village, one of the City’s gay districts.
He then entered a bar and use homophobic language and threats against the barman, showing the gun he was wearing in a holster.
The gunman left the bar and was joined by two friends, who followed Carson and his companion, and shouted at them: “Look at these faggots. What are you, gay wrestlers?”
One of the men then stopped tailing Carson. Mr Kelly reported that the gunman asked, “Do you want to die here?”, before shooting the victim in the cheek.
Police Officer Henry Huot arrested the gunman, who has yet to be named, based on a radio call.
Carson was pronounced dead at Beth Israel Hospital.
“This fully looks to be a hate crime; a bias crime,” said Mr Kelly. “There were no words that would aggravate the situation that were spoken by the victims. They did not know the confronter. There was no previous relationship.”
New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said: “I am horrified to learn that last night, a gay man was murdered in my district after being chased out of a Greenwich Village restaurant and assailed by homophobic slurs. I stand with all New Yorkers in condemning this attack.”
Police are also looking for four men who harassed and attacked two gay men.
The incident occurred on the evening of 5 May at around 5pm on Eighth Avenue near 34th street
