Police release surveillance images of suspect in Brooklyn Home Depot anti-Asian hate crime
Police released surveillance images Thursday of the suspect they say brandished a two-by-four and yelled racist insults at an Asian man inside a Brooklyn Home Depot amid a citywide surge of hate crimes.
Surveillance video shows the suspect, his nose and mouth covered with a mask, walking through the home improvement store on Gateway Drive in Starrett City the night of March 26.
Police say he accosted a 28-year-old Asian man shopping with his girlfriend.
He menaced the man with the two-by-four and said to the girlfriend, who is also 28 but not Asian, “Why you with that little d—k Asian n----r?” according to a police source.
He then threatened the victim directly.
“I’ll cut you, you f—king Asian,” the source quoted him saying. “Don’t call anyone. I’m a Blood, I’ll shoot you.”
The suspect is described as Black, in his 20s and about 5-foot-9 with a thin build. He appears to have a scar near one eye.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
There have been about three dozen anti-Asian hate crimes in the city this year.
