Police are investigating two separate attacks as possible hate crimes, including one from March, after a recent spate of bias attacks in the city has heightened attention to assaults on the gay community.
The first attack happened on Sunday, March 17 in Jackson Heights, police said. The suspect allegedly approached a 49-year-old man and punched the victim in the face while making anti-gay statements. The victim's face was bruised, and had redness and swelling on his lip.
Police are also investigating an assault inside a J train as it rode through Williamsburg, Brooklyn on Sunday, May 26.
The 27-year-old victim was standing and talking with another man on the subway when he was approached by the suspect who allegedly made anti-gay remarks, police said.
The suspect punched the victim twice in the face and fled to another part of the train.
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Other bias attacks in recent weeks have drawn attention to crimes targeting the gay community.
The shooting death of a 32-year-old gay man on May 18 who had allegedly been taunted with homophobic slurs sparked rallies and protests.
The NYPD said there was a rise in bias-related crimes in 2013, jumping to 24 from 14 during the same period last year.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly encouraged victims of these crimes to come forward.
"We believe these kinds of biased crimes are underreported," he said at a press conference last week. "Now it's being reported, and we think that it is a good thing."
The NYPD urges anyone with information on these crimes to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
