Police hunt for man who screamed homophobic slurs, threatened guys with box cutter
The New York Police Department is hunting for a man who screamed homophobic slurs and threatened passers-by with a box cutter.
The incident took place on July 11, on the corner of 33rd Street and 8th Avenue outside Manhattan’s Penn Station.
According to the NYPD, the man yelled homophobic slurs at two men in their 20s.
When they confronted him, the man pulled out a box cutter and threatened to kill them. They called 911, but the suspect fled into Penn Station.
The police department today released a surveillance photo of the suspect.
The individual is described as a man in his 40s, 5 feet 7 inches, with dreadlocks. He was last seen wearing a green shirt, dark coloured trousers and glasses.
CBS have tied the incident to an “increase in the number of homeless and emotionally unstable people” in the area, though it is unclear the motive for the attack.
Annette Woods of Trenton, New Jersey said: “It’s sad but that’s the reality here and it’s part of the city. I’m more scared than anything.”
A release to WPIX states: “Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
“The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.”
