Ramon Castro allegedly slashed a 34-year-old in an anti-gay attack in Jackson Heights last week. (NYPD)
July 15, 2021 By Michael Dorgan
A homeless man faces hate crime charges after he allegedly slashed a man’s face during an anti-gay attack in Jackson Heights last week.
Ramon Castro, 55, was apprehended early Thursday and charged with assault, menacing and aggravated harassment – all as hate crimes – for slashing a 34-year-old man across the face on July 8, according to police.
Castro allegedly cut the victim with a sharp object outside a building on 77th Street near 37th Road at around 3:10 a.m. following a heated argument. He shouted anti-gay statements at the victim before running off, police said.
The victim was cut on his left cheek and was taken to Elmhurst Hospital in stable condition.
It is unclear what sparked the incident. Police said that the victim was ordering food at a taco truck when Castro approached him. They then began arguing before Castro turned violent.
