Park Slope Hate Crime Attack: NYPD Identifies 3 Suspects

• Photos courtesy of the NYPD

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — Police have released the photos of three men allegedly connected to an attack on a transgender man on May 13.

According to police, shortly after 11 a.m. that morning, a group of five men between 19 and 20 years old hurled homophobic slurs at the 33-year-old victim near the intersection of 7th Avenue and 9th Street.

Three of the men, including one with a tattoo under his eye, then punched the victim, according to the NYPD, leaving him with a fractured nose and a fractured eye socket.

The suspects fled in an unknown direction, according to the NYPD. The assaulted man walked to Methodist Hospital in Park Slope where he received treatment.

Detectives describe the three identified suspects as black men.

The first was last seen wearing a gray Nike shirt with red sleeves.

The second was last seen wearing a dark colored jacket and a royal blue Adidas t-shirt.

The third has a bald head, and was last seen wearing a blue jean jacket and eyeglasses.

The NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force was informed of the attack, a police spokeswoman said last week.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these suspects can confidentially report it via the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers website or anonymously call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Los hispanohablantes pueden llamar 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Tips can also be text-messaged to the NYPD by texting 274637 (CRIMES), then entering TIP577.

Last Thursday, a group of officials and activists — Park Slope councilman Brad Lander, Sunset Park councilman Carlos Menchaca, Floyd Rumohr, the executive director of Brooklyn Community Pride Center, Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, and Brooklyn Pride, Inc. — released a joint statement condemning the attack.

"Our neighborhood has long been known for embracing the diversity that makes Brooklyn such a vibrant place to live," the statement read, "and we will not take lightly any act of violence that threatens the inclusive community we’ve all built together."

"Transgender and gender non-conforming people, particularly transgender women of color, experience extremely high rates of violence and homicide in this country," the statement continued. "We must stand up against this kind of hatred and accept everyone for who they are. We will not rest until all New Yorkers feel safe on our streets."

This alleged crime took place in the NYPD's 78th Precinct. According to official police statistics, through May 15, major crimes were collectively down in the 78th nearly 20 percent compared to the same time period last year.