Bronx Man Charged With Homophobic Attack On Midtown Subway

NEW YORK CITY, NY — A 46-year-old Bronx man is facing multiple hate crime charges after being accused of making homophomic remarks to and slashing a 27-year-old gay man while he rode the subway in midtown last month, according to the New York County District Attorney.

During the March 1 attack, the man, Milton Hamlin, "viciously and without provocation spewed derogatory remarks before attacking a man because of his sexual orientation," District Attorney Alvin L Bragg said Monday.

The incident occurred around 11 p.m. while Hamlin was sitting near the victim and the victim's husband aboard a northbound A train in Midtown, officials said.

As the couple was discussing a drag show they had attended earlier that night, Hamlin is first accused of making several homophobic remarks toward them, according to officials. He then is accused of pulling out a sharp object and swinging it towards the victim's head and neck.

"The victim attempted to avoid being slashed by using his hand to cover his neck," officials wrote. "Eventually, Hamlin slashed the victim’s hand and cut his neck. The victim’s laceration to his hand required four stitches to close."

Hamlin was arrested a few days later and is facing charges of attempted assault in the first degree as a hate count, a class B felony, assault in the second degree as a hate crime, a class C felony, and assault in the third degree as a hate crime, a class E felony.

"Subway riders deserve to be safe while using our transit system, and we do not tolerate attacks rooted in discrimination," Bragg said. "My office will work to pursue full accountability in this case and I wish the victim a speedy recovery."