You are reading

Bronx Man Indicted on Hate Crimes Charges for Slashing Man’s Face And Hurling Racist and Homophobic Slurs

Ramon Castro, pictured, allegedly slashed the face of a 34-year-old man as part of an anti-gay attack in Jackson Heights in July (NYPD)

Aug. 24, 2021 By Christian Murray

A Bronx man who allegedly slashed the face of man on Roosevelt Avenue after spewing out racial and homophobic slurs has been indicted by a Queens grand jury on multiple charges including assault as a hate crime.

Ramon Castro, 55, was arraigned Tuesday on a seven-count indictment for an alleged bias attack that took place during the early hours of July 6 at the intersection of 77th Street and Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights.

Castro allegedly approached the victim, a 34-year-old man, at around 3 a.m. and yelled “I hate Latinos and f..t people.” He then proceeded to cut the victim’s left cheek with a sharp object, before running away.

The victim was taken to Elmhurst Hospital. Numerous stitches were required to close the wound.

“In Queens, we value our diversity. Attacking others because of their ethnicity or who they love is never acceptable,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz in a statement.

Castro has been charged with assault in the first and second degree as a hate crime, assault in the first and second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, aggravated harassment in the second degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.

He has been ordered to return to court on Nov. 22. If convicted, Castro faces up to 15 years in prison.

email the author: [email protected]
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Mayor cautions people to stay indoors amid smoky conditions, warns haze will likely be ‘multiple day event’

As the city continues to be shrouded in a smoke-filled haze from Canadian wildfires, Mayor Eric Adams and senior administration officials Wednesday advised New Yorkers to stay indoors as much as possible, particularly those with underlying health conditions.

At 10 p.m. Tuesday night the city’s air quality index hit 218, a level considered to be “very unhealthy,” Adams and his team said during a Wednesday morning press briefing at New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) headquarters in Downtown Brooklyn. But as of 7 a.m. Wednesday morning, air quality improved slightly to a score of 174 in the Bronx. New York City typically has a score of 50.

Community rejoices as Pride Flag once again flies high over Richmond Hill

The Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park Lions Club, in partnership with local elected officials and community leaders, raised a Progress Pride Flag at the 133rd Street and Liberty Avenue intersection triangle in Richmond Hill, on Tuesday, June 6. 

Richmond Hill-South Ozone Park Lions Club 2nd Vice District Governor, Romeo Hitlall, with the aid of attendees, placed and raised the Pride flag on the existing flagpole, solidifying shared support of the LGBTQ+ community in Richmond Hill and the entire borough.