In Bed-Stuy, 2 Attacks in 2 Weeks Related to 'Ethnicity and Religion': Cops

BED-STUY, BROOKLYN — Police are asking for the public's help in finding a man who was caught on surveillance camera footage attacking a 58-year-old man in Bed-Stuy on Wednesday after asking him about his "ethnicity and religion," the NYPD said.

Someone reported to the police that on Wednesday, Dec. 12, at around 3:50 p.m. in the afternoon, the suspect approached the 58-year-old victim when he was walking northbound on Marcus Garvey Boulevard and Vernon Avenue, asked him about his ethnicity and religion, and then punched him in the face. The victim's nose was swollen and bleeding, and he was taken to Woodhull Hospital by emergency responders. The suspect fled in an unknown direction, cops said.

A similar attack happened just eight days before only a mile south of the aforementioned incident, at 515 Gates Ave., between Marcy and Tompkins avenues, at around 4:45 p.m., cops said. Several people approached a 20-year-old man and, again, asked him about his ethnicity and race, according to the NYPD. One of attackers punched the 20-year-old man in the face and broke his jaw, and another pushed him to the ground, police said. The group fled toward Marcy Avenue, and the victim took himself to Elmhurst Hospital.

The suspect caught on surveillance camera by cops is described as a black man around 35 years old, 6'0'' and 160 lbs., with a "dark complexion," brown eyes, black hair, and a beard. He was last seen wearing a black jacket with a hood with a white design and grey sweat pants, cops said.

If you have any information regarding these incidents, the NYPD asks that you call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS or for Spanish 1-888-57-PISTA (74782)

You can also submit your tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or texting your tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

Photo credit: NYPD