MIDTOWN — A man wanted by police for robbery yelled anti-gay slurs and then punched a 27-year-old man aboard a New York City-bound New Jersey Transit bus in the Lincoln Tunnel Monday evening, according to the Port Authority.
Daniel Rijos, 40, who is homeless and has two open warrants, started loudly cursing and shouting epithets at about 6:30 p.m. on March 7 before thrusting his finger into the right eye of the victim and then punching him in the face, the agency said in an email.
Riders flagged down a Port Authority police vehicle on West 41st Street. The officers boarded the bus and Rijos yelled anti-gay slurs at them.
Officers removed the Rijos and took him to Bellevue Hospital for psychiatric evaluation.
He was later charged with assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment.
The victim suffered swelling and a laceration to his eye and was treated at an area hospital.
