A fourth teenage boy was arrested in connection to the bias motivated attack on 14 year old boy onboard a school bus, beaten and taunted because he was thought to be gay, according to the Long Island Press. The fourth suspect is a 14 year old boy, who cannot be named because he is a juvenile, charged with assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment. 18 year old David Spencer, who faces the same charges, was arraigned Thursday alongside 16 year old Roy Wilson, the only one of the four suspects not charged with aggravated harassment. A third, 16 year old Chase Morrison, is to arraigned Friday, and the juvenile will appear for an arraignment likely next week. 18 year old Spencer remains in custody after failing to make bail. Nassau County police say the foursome attacked the victim leaving a bus Tuesday afternoon, the four “stomped and kicked his arms, legs, stomach and thigh.” Wednesday morning Spencer, Morrison, and the juvenile again “made disparaging remarks to the victim regarding his sexual orientation and assaulted the victim by slapping him in the head and face.” Advocates from the non-profit Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth group released a statement regarding the Hicksville attacks that read in part “Events like these attacks contribute to the epidemic of GLBT youth suicide. A clear message must be sent to the community that whether the attackers are students on a school bus or candidates for public office like Carl Paladino, homophobic language, harassment and violence cannot, and will not be tolerated.”
Meanwhile, a eleventh suspect was arrested in New York City Thursday night in connection to the horrific anti-gay attacks on two teen boys and two adult males, NY1 reporting that police allege Luis Garcia wrapped a chain around his fist before twice beating one of the victims. The 26 year old is to arraigned Friday afternoon.
The Buffalo News reports that sources say Republican New York gubernatorial candidate‘s campaign manager, the historically homophobic Michael Caputo, offered his resignation Thursday, but that Paladino insisted he stay with him through the end of the campaign. This comes after a week of grotesque anti-gay statement by Paladino, beginning last Sunday with an appearance in Brooklyn before a gathering of conservative Orthodox Jewish leaders that children should not be “brainwashed” into believing that being gay is acceptable. He has since apologized, but continues to make odd, obsessive comments about gay culture and pride parades. Monday night, Paladino, Democrat candidate Andrew Cuomo, and three other gubernatorial contenders will debate in public on Hofstra University on Long Island.
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