Felony Hate Crime Charges After Violence At Mamaroneck Gas Station

MAMARONECK, NY — An unprovoked attack at a Westchester business was provoked by hate and bigotry, according to police.

On Saturday, around 9:30 p.m., the Village of Mamaroneck Police Department responded to a 9-1-1 call about a fight in progress at a local gas station.

Officers arriving at the scene found a 22-year-old Mamaroneck man of Hispanic heritage who told them that he had been the victim of an unprovoked attack. The victim told police that while standing in line inside the gas station, he was approached by a man who asked if he had a green card, before telling him "to go back to his country."

The suspect, later identified as 57-year-old Carl B. Jones, of South Carolina, became increasingly aggressive after the victim attempted to defuse the situation by laughing off the comment, according to police.

Jones began spitting on the victim, placed his hands around the victim's throat, and applied pressure, according to the victim. In self-defense, the victim struck Jones, who then retaliated by punching the victim in the face and throwing him to the floor, according to the victim.

Video from surveillance cameras corroborate the victim and witnesses' accounts of the incident.

Officers quickly detained the suspect outside the store.

Emergency medical services were called and treated the victim on the scene.

Jones was taken to Village of Mamaroneck Police Department headquarters, where he was processed and held pending arraignment by the Village of Mamaroneck Court. He is expected to be remanded to the Westchester County Jail, due to his prior felony convictions.

Jones was charged with felony third-degree assault as a hate crime, and misdemeanor criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation.