Man Found Guilty For Anti-Muslim Slashing On New Years Eve: DA

NEW YORK CITY — A man who slashed a Muslim man in a New Year's Eve hate attack was found guilty by a Manhattan jury, prosecutors announced Thursday.

New Jersey resident Gino Sozio, 40, was convicted of hate crime assault and weapons charges on Wednesday, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

The victim, a 22-year-old and also a New Jersey resident, was slashed in the torso by Sozio as he screeched racist remarks at the young man, who then required stitches and surgery for the painful laceration, officials said.

“A Manhattan jury held Gino Sozio accountable for attacking a Muslim-American man in a vicious act of hate,” said Bragg. “Instead of walking away from a dispute, Sozio went on an appalling racist and anti-Muslim tirade and took out a knife, seriously injuring the victim who is still in pain to this day. I thank the victim and the eyewitnesses for bravely coming forward and taking the stand, and our talented prosecutors who fought for justice in this case.”

The victim traveled to Manhattan from New Jersey along with a group of friends and, at about 2 a.m. on New Years Eve, had stopped to grab a bite from a halal food cart on the corner of East 29th Street and Fifth Avenue, prosecutors said.

As they waited for their food, Sozio walked up to the group and made xenophobic remarks, including "this is my county. Go back to your country," officials said.

Sozio then slapped a phone out of the hands of one of the victim's friends after he pulled out his phone to record the remarks, according to Bragg's office.

The friend then punched Sozio, and Sozio pulled out a knife and started swinging it towards the group of friends, officials said, as he yelled racial remarks, including "terrorist," and "Halal motherf---s."

Sozio ended up slashing the 22-year-old victim, leaving a large gash in his upper torso, officials said, and the group of friends were able to disarm Sozio and call police.

Officers arrived minutes later and arrested Sozio, who continued to make racial comments and slurs regarding the group, prosecutors said.

Bragg's office said Sozio is expected to be sentenced on May 3.