NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A man demanded money from a customer at a Manhattan McDonald's before dragging him through the restaurant by his hair and punching him in the face in a suspected anti-gay hate crime, police said Friday.
The NYPD's Hate Crime Task Force released an image of the suspect they're after in the Dec. 6 attack inside the McDonald's at 208 Dyckman St. in Inwood.
The 22-year-old victim was inside the McDonald's at 5:15 p.m. when his attacker came up from behind and demanded money from him, police said.
When the victim refused to give him cash, the man grabbed him by his hair and dragged him through the restaurant, according to cops.
He then punched the victim in the face and hurled anti-gay insults at him, police said.
Law enforcement sources told the New York Post that the man called the victim a "f****t" and threatened, "I have a gun. I’m going to mug you."
After the assault, the suspect fled the scene on foot, police said. He was last seen headed northbound on Broadway.
The victim suffered minor facial injuries in the attack, according to cops.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.