Police are hunting down a man who allegedly assaulted a woman in a Greenwich Village restaurant while making homophobic remarks. The incident occurred early Monday morning. An arbitrary act of anti-gay violence, with no apparent motive, this bias crime has angered many in the LGBT community and put neighborhood residents on alert.
According to investigators, the victim was inside the Waverly Diner on Sixth Avenue around 4:30 A.M. Monday, when she was accosted by a man captured briefly on surveillance video.
Cops say the man entered the eatery and exchanged some words with the woman. After making anti-gay statements, he grabbed a ketchup bottle and struck the woman in the face, gashing her forehead.
It appears that the alleged perpetrator did not know the victim. Police believe the attack came out of the blue. There is no clear motive.
Tourists and locals alike, especially night owls, are familiar with the Waverly Diner as a welcoming place for casual comfort food. It is one of the last places anyone would expect a vicious attack to occur. Neighborhood residents are shocked and outraged by the seemingly random assault.
The suspect is a white or Hispanic male in his 20s or 30s. He is described as being 6’1″ tall and weighing about 200 pounds. He has a round face and a light beard or razor stubble. He was last seen wearing a dark-colored baseball cap, a grey or white baseball-style shirt with dark sleeves, blue jeans and dark-colored sneakers.
Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS, or text CRIMES and enter TIP577, or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.
What Do You Think?