ChuckD
The Gay Lord of Freestyle
N.Y. suspect arrested for beating gay man
Police arrested a 22-year-old ex-con Thursday in the savage beating of a gay Brooklyn man that left him in a coma. Steven Pomie faces an attempted murder charge and two counts of assault as a hate crime.
According to the New York Daily News, Dwan Prince, 26, watched as Pomie, a Crips gang member, pulled up his shirt while on a walk June 8. The shirt he was wearing was a pink tank top that belonged to his girlfriend.
When Pomie noticed Prince was watching him, witnesses claim he blurted out, "What the f--- are you looking at?"
Witnesses said Prince responded flirtatiously.
But Pomie exploded, pummeling Prince to the ground.
"My son didn't do anything to deserve this," Prince's mother, Valerie Prinez, told the New York Daily News. "No one deserves this."
"This kind of crime cannot be tolerated," Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes said in a statement. "The NYPD and my office moved quickly to assure that this suspect was brought to justice."
NYPD Capt. Michael Osgood of the hate crimes task force told reporters two other men involved in the attack are still at large.
But Osgood said Pomie was the primary attacker. "He does the final, vicious drop kick," Osgood said.
The victim was "openly gay and very well-liked," Osgood said in a quote published by the Associated Press. "He was viewed as a sweet, gentle man."
Clarence Patton, the acting executive director of the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, told the PlanetOut Network, "We're absolutely pleased with the swift progress in the investigation. We hope the police will be able to apprehend anyone else involved."
"Hate Crimes are all too common. About every 12 hours we get some report of an anti-LGBT hate crime incident. Every 36 hours we get a report of an assault," said Patton.
Patton put the latest crime in context. "In 2003, our hate violence numbers went up 26 percent. In 2004 they only decreased 2 percent. Essentially, hate violence is up."
While Prince remains in a coma at Brookdale University Hospital, he has started breathing on his own. Relatives claim he opened his eyes once and can grasp the hands of loved ones.
His mother says she is glad her son's suspected attacker is in custody. "I'm grateful," she said. "The power of prayer works."
Police arrested a 22-year-old ex-con Thursday in the savage beating of a gay Brooklyn man that left him in a coma. Steven Pomie faces an attempted murder charge and two counts of assault as a hate crime.
According to the New York Daily News, Dwan Prince, 26, watched as Pomie, a Crips gang member, pulled up his shirt while on a walk June 8. The shirt he was wearing was a pink tank top that belonged to his girlfriend.
When Pomie noticed Prince was watching him, witnesses claim he blurted out, "What the f--- are you looking at?"
Witnesses said Prince responded flirtatiously.
But Pomie exploded, pummeling Prince to the ground.
"My son didn't do anything to deserve this," Prince's mother, Valerie Prinez, told the New York Daily News. "No one deserves this."
"This kind of crime cannot be tolerated," Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes said in a statement. "The NYPD and my office moved quickly to assure that this suspect was brought to justice."
NYPD Capt. Michael Osgood of the hate crimes task force told reporters two other men involved in the attack are still at large.
But Osgood said Pomie was the primary attacker. "He does the final, vicious drop kick," Osgood said.
The victim was "openly gay and very well-liked," Osgood said in a quote published by the Associated Press. "He was viewed as a sweet, gentle man."
Clarence Patton, the acting executive director of the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, told the PlanetOut Network, "We're absolutely pleased with the swift progress in the investigation. We hope the police will be able to apprehend anyone else involved."
"Hate Crimes are all too common. About every 12 hours we get some report of an anti-LGBT hate crime incident. Every 36 hours we get a report of an assault," said Patton.
Patton put the latest crime in context. "In 2003, our hate violence numbers went up 26 percent. In 2004 they only decreased 2 percent. Essentially, hate violence is up."
While Prince remains in a coma at Brookdale University Hospital, he has started breathing on his own. Relatives claim he opened his eyes once and can grasp the hands of loved ones.
His mother says she is glad her son's suspected attacker is in custody. "I'm grateful," she said. "The power of prayer works."
