3 Teens Charged In Anti-Gay Attack On Man, 72, In Chelsea: NYPD

CHELSEA, NY - A 72-year-old man was severely beaten by several teens in an anti-gay attack in Chelsea last month, authorities said.

Three teen boys ranging from 13 to 16 years of age were charged Monday morning with gang assault, hate crime and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the Sept. 15 attack near West 17 Street and Ninth Avenue, police said. One suspect remains at large.

The four assailants punched, kicked and struck the elderly victim with items in the head and body while making "anti-LGBTQIA+ statements" about 10:15 p.m., police said.

“What are you doing around here, you f—ing f—-t?” the strangers asked the man, according to the New York Daily News.

The assailants ran into the Fulton Houses on West 19th Street after the attack, police said.

The 72-year-old victim was transported to an area hospital by private means for a broken jaw and lacerations to his face and hands, police said.

The NYPD's Hate Crime Task Force is investigating the incident. Anyone with information in regard to the incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).