4 Hate Crimes That Rocked NYC Over the Course Of the Last Two Weeks

The Friday murder of 32-year-old openly gay Mark Carson in New York City's Greenwich Village is the fourth hate crime in less than two weeks. New York City has been rocked by 4 hate crimes in the last two weeks as the city's LGBT community readies for its 2013 Gay Pride — which marks the 44th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots (the gay liberation movement that gave birth to the modern day LGBT rights movement):

1. Mark Carson

On Friday, gunman Elliot Morales shot and killed 32-year-old openly gay Mark Carson in Greenwich Village — few blocks away from the legendary Stonewall Inn, the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement. The suspect allegedly shouted homophobic slurs at the victim and a friend, asking them if they were "gay wrestlers" (they were wearing tank tops and cutoff shorts). He then took out a .38 caliber gun and shot Carson in the head. 

2. Nick Porto and Kevin Atkins

On May 5, gay couple Nick Porto and Kevin Atkins were attacked by a group of 20-year-olds wearing Knicks Jerseys around Madison Square Garden. Porto (27) and Atkins were walking arm-in-arm when the bigots knocked them to the ground calling them "faggots" and kicking and punching them until they sent them to the hospital. Police are currently investigating the attack as a hate crime.    

3. Christopher St. Attack

On May 8, an unidentified 35-year-old gay man was leaving the bar "Pieces" on Christopher Street at around 1:45 a.m. when he was allegedly attacked by a three men who called him "faggot" while hitting him several times in the head and the body. The attackers then fled the scene. No arrests have been made. 

4. PATH Station Attack

On May 10, two gay men were brutally beaten outside a midtown PATH station by 21-year-olds Asllan Berisha and Brian Ramirez, who were arraigned on charges of misdemeanor assault and harassment after sending the 27 and 37 year-old victims to Bellevue Hospital where one of them underwent eye surgery. The victims said they were attacked "because they are homosexuals."