You are reading

Vandal sought for destroying Pride flag, harassing staff at Astoria pub with anti-gay rhetoric: NYPD

The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Unity has joined the search for a vandal who was caught on camera shredding a Pride flag from Murphy’s Bar in Astoria and then allegedly harassing pub employees with anti-gay phone calls and messaging. Photo: NYPD and Google Maps

Oct. 2, 2024 By Bill Parry

The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Unit has joined the search for a vandal who allegedly tore down a Pride flag at a popular Astoria sports bar and was caught on camera pulling out a knife and slicing it to pieces as he and a friend walked up 23rd Avenue.

The incident occurred in broad daylight during the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 6, when the suspect was inside Murphy’s Bar at 45-01 23rd Ave. just north of the Grand Central Parkway and Astoria Boulevard.

At 2:30 p.m., police from the 114th Precinct in Astoria reported that the vandal snatched an LGBTQIA+ flag that was hanging in the tavern and departed with another man, pulled the blade out of his sweatpants, and proceeded to shred the banner as they walked away.

There were no injuries during the incident, police said. Then, the harassment began. The suspect began calling, messaging, and threatening workers at Murphy’s Bar using anti-gay slurs.

The investigation remains ongoing by the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Unit, which released video surveillance of the suspect on Tuesday. He has a light complexion with dark hair and a thin build. He wore baggy pink sweatpants, a black t-shirt, and white sneakers.

Anyone with information regarding this aggravated harassment investigation is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.

Through Sept. 29, the 114th Precinct has reported eleven hate crimes so far in 2024, five fewer than the sixteen reported at the same point last year, a decline of 31.2%, according to the most recent CompStat report.

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

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

Recent News

Suspect wanted for allegedly groping three women as they walked to work in Corona: NYPD

Police from the 115th Precinct in Jackson Heights are looking for a serial groper who targeted three women in 20 minutes on Monday, Sept. 1, in Corona.

The first incident occurred at around 5:55 a.m. as a 37-year-old victim was walking to work near the intersection of 103rd Street and 37th Avenue when a stranger approached her from behind and allegedly grabbed her buttocks before running off westbound on 37th Avenue toward 102nd Street.

Your autumn hair care survival guide, straight from Ellee Salon in Long Island City

Sep. 18, 2025 By Jessica Militello

The transition from summer to fall brings plenty of changes, from the start of cooler weather to fun autumn recipes and more, but for many, the seasonal shift can wreak havoc on our hair, causing ends to feel dry and roots to feel more oily than normal. Before you give up on your hair goals and reach for a baseball cap, check out some of these fall hair tips and the latest trends for the season from veteran hair stylist and owner of Ellee Salon, Ellen Lee.

LGBTQ+ advocate calls for passage of GIRDS Act

Sep. 18, 2025 By Jimmy Robles

It has been several years since lawmakers first introduced the Gender Identity Respect, Dignity and Safety (GIRDS) Act in 2021. Various organizations, including the Trans Immigrant Project (TrIP) of Make The Road New York, have called on state legislators in Albany to protect and end discrimination against TGNCNBI (transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary and intersex) people in state and local correctional facilities.

College Point man charged with arson, attempted murder for allegedly starting 2-alarm house fire: NYPD

One of the five civilians rescued by the FDNY from a 2-alarm house fire in College Point on Friday morning was arrested later in the day for allegedly starting the blaze in his first-floor apartment.

Jonathan Mejia, 33, was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Tuesday, Sept. 16 on a complaint charging him with arson in the first degree, four counts of attempted murder in the second degree and other related charges.