Teens Attack Men In Anti-Gay Queens Hate Crime, Police Say

QUEENS, NY — A group of hateful youths attacked and yelled anti-gay slurs at two men walking in Astoria, police said.

The four youths, who appear to be in their mid-teens, remain on the loose as NYPD officers investigate the Feb. 28 street attack as a potential hate crime, authorities said.

The incident unfolded about 7:30 p.m. as two men walked on Broadway near 33rd Street in Astoria, NYPD officials said.

They ran across four youths who began throwing what police called "hard objects" at them while they made anti-LGBTQIA+ comments, police said. The teens repeatedly punched one man in the face before they ran off, authorities said.

The man who was punched suffered bruising and swelling to his face, police said.

NYPD officials Monday morning released photographs showing youths believed to be connected to the attack.

People with information are asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). They can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, on Twitter @NYPDTips.