Teen Hurled Homophobic Insults, Attacked Man: Nassau Police

A Nassau teenager was arrested on Tuesday after police say he hurled anti-gay slurs at a man and then attacked him.

According to police, a 24-year-old man was inside of McDoland's, located at 1420 Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont, at 3:55 p.m. Tuesday. The man heard a group of people yelling homophobic slurs at him. Police say the man asked the group to stop, at which time a 16-year-old boy approached him and started to argue with the man and spat on him.

The two were separated by employees, and police say the teen then approached the man again and began to punch and kick him while making more homophobic slurs. The teen then fled the scene on foot, police said, but was located later by officers and placed under arrest without incident.

Police are asking anyone with information about this incident to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

The teen, whom police did not identify, was charged with third-degree assault as a hate crime. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday, June 4 in First District Court in Hempstead.