Racist Vandals Destroy Queens Graves, Prosecutor Says

QUEENS, NY – Vandals caused $100,000 to headstones at a Queens cemetery, spraying racists slurs on the monuments and pushing dozens of them over, prosecutors said.

Mark A. Barrancos, 21, of Forest Hills, Bruno Camacho, 21, of Elmhurst, and Edward Evseev, 21, of Richmond Hill are accused of breaking into the Cypress Hills Cemetery the night of Aug. 14, vandalizing more than 100 headstones, along with mausoleums and monuments, said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

The three men were arraigned Monday. They are accused of knocking over 72 headstones in the cemetery's and damaging another 72 with painted slogans including "God LOL" and the "N" word, Brown said.

They also allegedly spray painted the words "Ching Chong" on the Gee Poy Kup Association's monument and the Sze Kong Mutual Benevolent Association's arch, along with smearing the words "F--- Jackie Chan" on an Asian headstone with what appeared to be human feces, Brown said.

They are also accused of damaging the cemetery's Memorial Abbey Mausoleum, where 15 more vaults were either cracked or painted, three stained glass windows were broken and several statues either knocked over or broken, Brown said.

"In Queens County, the most culturally diverse county in the nation, crimes of hate will never be tolerated and we will do all in our power to root out those responsible for such hate and prejudice,” Brown said.

The men were each charged with burglary, criminal mischief, cemetery desecration, aggravated harassment and criminal trespass as hate crimes, Brown said. Bail was set at $100,000 and the men were ordered to return to court Nov. 15, he said. Each could face up to 15 years in prison.

Lead image via Patch.