NYPD detectives in the Bronx are asking New Yorkers to help put names to two faces caught on camera after what the department described Friday as an anti‑LGBTQ hate‑crime assault. Police released surveillance footage and urged anyone who recognizes the people in the clip to speak up so investigators can track them down.
According to CBS News New York, the NYPD circulated a short video showing two individuals investigators believe were involved in the attack. Police have not released any names and have not announced arrests tied to the footage.
Citywide trend and department response
The search for the suspects comes as the city grapples with a broader rise in bias‑motivated incidents. The NYPD reports that confirmed hate crimes increased 11.7% in the first quarter of 2026, and says its Hate Crimes Task Force reviews reported cases to determine whether they meet the legal threshold for a hate crime. The department says it will continue investigating allegations and is urging witnesses to preserve any original video files that could help identify suspects.
Advocates caution that official numbers likely fall short of the real scope of the problem. News12 New York reports that incidents motivated by sexual orientation have climbed sharply this year, and Audacia Ray of the NYC Anti‑Violence Project told the outlet, "No one deserves this." Community groups say many victims never file reports, which makes eyewitness footage and bystander tips all the more critical.
How to help police identify suspects
Police are asking anyone who may have filmed the assault or who recognizes the people seen in the released footage to contact investigators. Local reporting and NYPD outreach materials note that the department accepts anonymous tips through the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1‑800‑577‑TIPS (8477), through its online tip portal, and via the NYPD Crime Stoppers social media account, where investigators review submissions.
Legal note
Under New York State law, an otherwise criminal act can be treated as a hate crime when it is motivated, in whole or in part, by bias against a protected characteristic such as sexual orientation. The state’s anti‑hate resource guide outlines which offenses qualify under the statute and lists services available to victims while investigations move forward.
