Suspect arrested in brutal hate-driven attack in Brooklyn
WILLIAMSBURG, Brooklyn (WABC) -- Police have arrested a suspect in connection with a brutal hate-driven attack in Brooklyn.
Brandon McNamara, 25, of Queens, is now facing multiple charges in the incident, which happened just before 1 a.m. Sunday on Metropolitan Avenue as the two male victims were leaving a gay bar in Williamsburg.
Investigators say McNamara approached victims, who were intoxicated, and made anti-gay comments before viciously attacking them.
The suspect allegedly punched the 34-year-old victim in the face and then threw the 29-year-old victim against a tree. Both victims, from Hawthorne, New Jersey, were knocked unconscious.
One victim sustained a fractured shoulder, while the other suffered a broken finger.
McNamara is charged with two counts each of second-degree assault as a hate crime, second-degree assault, second-degree aggravated harassment as a hate crime, first-degree harassment and second-degree harassment.
This attack is yet another sad reminder that even though the LGBTQ community has made advances in recent years, there are people who will hate us - and act on that hatred - for no reason other than who we love. There is no room for bigotry in our open, diverse city," said NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson.
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