Man attacked with snow shovel and box cutter in alleged homophobic hate crime attack
A suspect has been charged with a hate crime violation
A suspect has been arrested on an anti-gay hate crime charge after a Boston man was attacked with a snow shovel and a box cutter.
Eddie Smith, 58, has been charged with a hate crime violation as well as assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
Victim slashed with box cutter in alleged homophobic attack in Boston.
According to the Boston Herald, the assailant – who had reportedly targeted the victim over his sexual orientation in the past – begun hurling anti-gay slurs at him during the incident at noon on Tuesday.
The situation escalated when the man was hit over the head with a snow shovel, and slashed with a box cutter.
Police recovered a snow shovel and a box cutter (File photo)
Police found the victim “bleeding heavily ” from a head wound, according to the report. He was taken to a local Boston hospital.
Smith was arraigned Tuesday in Roxbury District Court.
Suspect ‘struck the victim in the head with a snow shovel’.
Boston Police Department said in a statement: “At about 11:57 AM on Tuesday, December 3, 2019, officers assigned to District B-2 (Roxbury), responded to a radio call for an Assault and Battery in progress at the corner of Tremont Street and Prentiss Street.
“Upon arrival, officers located an adult male victim suffering from an apparent head wound that was bleeding heavily.
“Officers rendered first aid to the victim until Boston EMS arrived on scene and transported the victim to a local area hospital with non life threatening injuries.
“After further investigation, it was revealed to officers that the suspect struck the victim in the head with a snow shovel then pulled out a box-cutter and slashed the victim over his eye.
“The suspect, later identified as Eddie Smith, 58, of Boston, fled on foot but was apprehended in the area of Shawmut Avenue and Dudley Square. Officers also located a box-cutter as well as a snow shovel.”
Smith was arraigned at Roxbury District Court, where he was charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, mayhem and civil rights violation with injury.
