BROOKLYN — A man spewing anti-gay slurs on a C train in Downtown Brooklyn punched another subway rider in the face in what police are investigating as a hate crime, NYPD officials said.
The 29-year-old victim had boarded the train at the Franklin Avenue stop at 8:50 a.m. March 30 when the suspect began to harass him, police said. The attacks escalated as the suspect shouted anti-gay sexual obscenities and then punched the victim in the face when they pulled into the Hoyt — Schermerhorn station, police said.
The suspect, who can be seen in video police released Wednesday night, fled the scene and hadn't been arrested as of Thursday morning, police said.
The victim's face was bruised and swollen, but he refused medical attention, police said.
The suspect is in his early 20s, about 5 feet 7 inches and 150 pounds, police said. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, red hoodie, black hat, red jeans and sported purple headphones, police said.
The NYPD's Hate Crime Task Force is investigating the attack, officials said.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).
