Mark Carson (32) did not hide that he was gay, and when he went out on the town he would often head to Greenwich Village, where years before he was born, much of the struggle for gay liberation unfolded. Yet late Friday night, just blocks from the Stonewall Inn, among the most important landmarks of that struggle, he was confronted with a man screaming anti-gay slurs, who then stalked him before pulling out a silver revolver and fatally shooting him, the police said.
“This clearly looks to be a hate crime,” Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said at a news conference on Saturday. A suspect, later identified as Elliot Morales, 33, was arrested.
Mr. Kelly described a chaotic scene that involved a man seemingly out looking for trouble when he crossed paths with Mr. Carson and ended up shooting him in the face. (The New York Times)
“This clearly looks to be a hate crime,” Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said at a news conference on Saturday. A suspect, later identified as Elliot Morales, 33, was arrested.
Mr. Kelly described a chaotic scene that involved a man seemingly out looking for trouble when he crossed paths with Mr. Carson and ended up shooting him in the face. (The New York Times)
What is so frightening about this -- is that that corner he was attacked is very out in the open in what has to be one of the most crowded, and famous "gay areas" in the world - the West (Greenwich) Village. And this area is busy 24 hours a day.
ReplyDeleteThis is the fourth attack on gay men in the past four weeks in Manhattan.
What is going on? Is this the work of one crazy person or is it a trend? This is frightening.
You are absolutely correct, my friend!
DeleteThe fact that such an atrocious attack of violence and bigoted hate could occur in a part of New York which in many ways and for many decades has been considered a "safe" place for gay men and women is truly frightening.
I stopped by briefly but I didn't join the rally or the march. I was just too sad. The police are everywhere in the West Village now with 5 hate crimes against gay men in 2 weeks. I almost feel like we're back in the dark ages. The coward that killed Mark should never see life out of a prison ever again. Mark was an innocent man. May he rest in peace!
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Hugs, my dearest Dej, all this is so much closer to home than to the rest of us. Please be careful and stay safe, you hear me?
DeleteI am saddened to hear of this crime. It is a shame in this day and age that bigotry is so powerful. I feel for Mark's family and friends. This horrible incident reminds me how important it is to always speak truth to power and advocate for the poor, downtrodden, an oppressed.
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