Man rips down, cuts up gay pride flag in Queens bias crime: police

A knife-wielding antheral successful pinkish pants ripped down and carved up an LGBTQ pridefulness emblem hanging from a Queens sports barroom during an enactment of anti-gay vandalism, constabulary said Wednesday.

Armed with surveillance images of the suspect, cops are hoping to find the antheral who a period agone yanked down the emblem hanging from Murphy’s Sports Bar connected 23rd Ave. adjacent 45th St. successful Astoria.

The vandal was caught connected camera tearing down the emblem astatine astir 2:30 p.m. connected Sept. 6. He past went astir the corner, pulled a knife, and chopped the emblem into pieces.

Afterward, the aforesaid antheral repeatedly called and messaged the bar, threatening workers with “anti-gay slurs,” constabulary said. Cops did not disclose what was said to barroom employees.

Attempts to scope the barroom for remark were unsuccessful Wednesday. Murphy’s Bar opened successful September 2023, about a twelvemonth earlier the vandalism took place.

The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating.

Detectives recovered the surveillance footage and are asking anyone with accusation regarding the vandal’s whereabouts to travel forward.

The fishy is described arsenic achromatic with abbreviated brownish hair. At the clip of the incidental helium was wearing a achromatic T-shirt, pinkish pants and achromatic shoes.

Anyone with accusation regarding his whereabouts is urged to telephone Crime Stoppers astatine (800) 577-TIPS. All calls volition beryllium kept confidential.