A Man Was Indicted In The Case Of A Suspected Hate Crime In Hudson County

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — A Maryland man was indicted on Thursday in a hate crime case that took place in Hudson County.

José Tobias Carranza Serrano, 18, of Baltimore, MD, was charged with attempted murder and bias intimidation. According to the Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck, Carranza Serrano is accused of beating and choking a man he suspected of being gay in North Hudson Park in North Bergen, N.J., on the night of June 21, 2021.

At 11 p.m. on June 21, Carranza Serrano attacked a stranger had just met — according to the AG " Carranza Serrano allegedly wanted to kill the victim because he suspected the victim was gay."

Carranza Serrano punched and kicked the victim in the face, causing bone fractures and knocking out several teeth, according to the AG. He also attempted to strangle the victim and took a phone and $8 from the victim, according to the AG. The victim was found unconscious near the path around the lake by a passerby shortly before 5 a.m. the next day.

“We will not tolerate violence targeting the LGBTQ+ community,” said Acting Attorney General Bruck. “There is simply no excuse for this type of hate, and we will ensure that those who engage in violence are held fully accountable for their actions.”

Carranza Serrano faces charges of attempted homicide, bias intimidation, robbery and aggravated assault. The first-degree bias intimidation charge carries a sentence of 15 to 30 years in state prison. The attempted murder charge carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison, with parole ineligibility equal to 85 percent of the sentence imposed. Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in prison.