Suspect Arrested In Astoria Anti-Asian Hate Crime, Police Say

ASTORIA, QUEENS — A suspect has been arrested nearly two months after the anti-Asian attack on Steinway Street that left a man with a chipped tooth, according to police.

Rudy Coslopez, 41, of Elmhurst, faces charges including assault and aggravated harassment — both as hate crimes — in connection with the July 12 incident, police said Tuesday.

Police say the victim, a 22-year-old man, was walking along Steinway Street between 34th and 35th avenues just before 9 p.m. when a stranger walked up to him and began to shout.

"You Asians are the reason I can't get a job," the suspect cried, according to police. "You Chinese are scum."

The man then head-butted his victim in the face before fleeing the scene, police said.

The victim's tooth was chipped, but he did not need medical attention, police said.

Police had circulated a photo of the suspect days after the assault and asked for help identifying him.

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