Police investigate NYC West Village attack as possible hate crime
A man remains in serious condition at St. Vincent's Hospital after he was viciously beaten in the West Village early yesterday morning as a result of what police continue to investigate as a possible hate crime.
Four men beat Alan Williams, 50, of Buffalo near Caf? Riviera the corner of Christopher Street and Seventh Avenue South around 2 a.m. Thursday morning as he tried to hail a cab. The Daily News reported several of Williams' friends said he is gay. And the newspaper cited New York Police Department sources who said Williams, an accountant, had a card from Gay Men's Health Crisis in his pocket.
Williams suffered head trauma, and he remains in a medically induced coma at St. Vincent's.
"Any violent assault of this kind is a terrible tragedy," Sharon Stapel, executive director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project, said. "We would like to express our concern for the victim and for family and friends affected by this assault."
This attack comes a little more than six months after Keith Phoenix and Hakeem Scott allegedly beat Ecuadorian immigrant Jos? Sucuzha?ay to death on a Bushwick street after they thought he was gay because he was walking arm-and-arm with his brother Romel.
Stapel added her organization continues to work with the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn [D-Chelsea.]
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