A Brooklyn man is now in handcuffs after police say he carried out an anti-LGBTQ assault on a northbound L train at the Lorimer Street station in January, leaving a 24-year-old rider with minor injuries.
The victim, who declined medical attention at the scene, was attacked in the early-morning hours of Jan. 18, according to police.
Authorities identified the suspect as Yeshayahuw Carraway and said he was arrested Sunday. As reported by News 12 Brooklyn, Carraway is charged with hate-crime assault, assault, theft of services, two counts of aggravated harassment, hate-crime menacing, menacing and harassment.
The NYPD says the encounter began just before 5 a.m. on a Manhattan-bound L train, when a man approached the victim, hurled anti-LGBTQIA+ remarks and then followed him off at the Lorimer Street stop. The attacker displayed a knife and punched the victim multiple times, according to amNY. Detectives later released surveillance stills of a man in dark clothing carrying a gray duffel bag as they searched for a suspect. The victim again refused treatment, police said.
Police appeal for witnesses
The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force picked up the case and called on riders to help fill in the gaps. As Brooklyn Eagle notes, investigators urged anyone with video or information to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or submit a tip online.
Charges and next steps
Carraway now faces a long list of counts that include a hate-crime enhancement, meaning prosecutors will decide whether to pursue stiffer penalties tied to bias motivation. As reported by News 12 Brooklyn, his arrest comes after the NYPD’s public appeal for tips in the case.
City context
The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is responsible for investigating incidents flagged as potential bias crimes and coordinating those cases across precincts, according to the NYPD. City officials and community groups say bias-related attacks remain a central concern in law enforcement, and that video from everyday riders often provides the crucial lead that moves an investigation forward.
