East New York & Brownsville

Crime & Mayhem

3 Men Charged With Hate Crimes for Racist Graffiti in Cemetery, NYPD Says

October 31, 2017 8:57am | Updated October 31, 2017 5:32pm
Three teens vandalized the cemetery where Det. Wenjian Liu is buried, police said.
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DNAinfo/Katie Honan

BROOKLYN — Three vandals were charged Monday with hate crimes for toppling headstones and scrawling racial epithets such as “Ching Chong” and “F--k Jackie Chan” on graves at the Cypress Hills Cemetery, according to police.

Bruno Camacho, 22, Edward Evseev and Mark Barrancos, both 21, were arrested Monday for criminal mischief, burglary, criminal trespassing as a hate crime, cemetery desecration, aggravated harassment and attempted burglary for the Aug. 15 vandalism, the NYPD said.

They also spray painted, “F--k the NYPD” and “F--k Sand N-----s,” according to police.

The cemetery, on Jamaica Avenue near Crescent Street, has interred several notable people, including Jackie Robinson, slain NYPD Officer Wenjian Liu and murdered 7-year-old Nixzmary Brown.

None of their graves were vandalized, the cemetery said at the time.

The men also damaged at least 15 vaults inside the Memorial Abbey Mausoleum, knocked over 72 headstones and painted on at least 48 others with racial slurs, causing more than $100,000 in damage, according to the Queens District Attorney. 

“Even in their eternal rest the dead of Queens County cannot escape from the bigotry and hatred that brews in some people’s hearts," said DA Richard Brown in a statement. 

"In Queens County, the most culturally diverse county in the nation, crimes of hate will never be tolerated and we will do all in our power to root out those responsible for such hate and prejudice.”  

Police initially suspected the suspects were teenagers.

After the incident, the cemetery worked to repair the damage, officials said.

Camacho, Evseev and Barrancos were ordered held on $100,000 bail at their arraignments in Queens Criminal Court Tuesday.

A lawyer for Evseev said his client is innocent and declined to comment further on the specific allegations. 

A lawyer for Camacho did not return an immediate request for comment, and a lawyer for Barrancos was not reachable by phone. 

They are due back in court on Nov. 15. 

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