Attack Victim Dies; Protesters Hit Sts.

Jose Sucuzhanay Two days after the death of a man beaten in an attack being investigated as a bias crime, community activists and residents took to the streets of Bushwick last Sunday, Dec. 14 calling for those responsible to be brought to justice.

The victim, identified as 31- year-old Jose Sucuzhanay of Bushwick, died last Friday, Dec. 12 at Elmhurst Hospital Center after sustaining severe head injuries in the Dec. 7 beatdown at the intersection of Bushwick Avenue and Kossuth Place.

During the attack, law enforcement sources said, the assailants shouted ethnic and anti-gay slurs at the victim. As of press time, no arrests have been made in connec- tion with the incident, and a reward is being offered for their capture.

Sunday's rally was billed as a vigil for Sucuzhanay as well as for all hate crime victims, and was attended by numerous political and civic activists, elected officials, clergy members and representatives of community groups.

Hundreds of residents jammed into a community park at the intersection of Grove Street and Myrtle Avenue in Bushwick at the start of a rally in memory of hate crime victims on Sunday, Dec. 14. The event, which attracted community activists and elected offiicals, was held two days after the death of Jose Sucuzhanay, who was beaten at a Bushwick intersection on Dec. 7 by a group of suspects who hurled ethnic and homosexual slurs at him. (photo: Adriana Varella) The march reportedly started outside the headquarters of Make the Road New York, located at the intersection of Grove Street and Myrtle Avenue, and wound through local streets before concluding at the scene of the Dec. 7 attack.

Among the elected officials taking part in the demonstration were City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, City Council Members Diana Reyna and Erik Martin Dilan, Rep. Nydia Velázquez and Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes.

In a statement issued following Sucuzhanay's death, Speaker Quinn expressed her sympathy to the victim's family while vowing that "these cowardly acts are outrageous and will not be tolerated."

"We will not let the behavior of these individuals who committed this horrible, senseless crime go unchecked," Quinn stated. "This crime is not just an attack against one person or one community, but an unconscionable act on all New Yorkers. We will continue to stand against crimes of hate in our city and the destruction that comes along with it."

According to law enforcement sources, the fatal beatdown took place at around 3:15 a.m. on Sunday morning, Dec. 7, as Sucuzhanay, an Ecuadorian immigrant, was walking with his brother through the vicinity of Bushwick Avenue and Kossuth Place.

Police said the pair were approached by a group of suspects later described as African-American males who arrived at the scene inside a burgundy Ford Explorer. Reportedly, the group shouted derogatory remarks against Hispanics and homosexuals.

Law enforcement sources said the group then exited the vehicle and approached the victims; several of the individuals were reportedly observed carrying baseball bats.

The suspects reportedly struck both men about the body. Police said that while Sucuzhanay's brother was able to run away from his attackers, the victim was knocked unconscious after being bashed repeatedly in the head.

All the while, police noted, the group allegedly continued to shout ethnic and homosexual slurs. After the assault, the four men then reentered the SUV that fled from the scene in an unknown direction.

Members of the 83rd Precinct responded to the scene along with EMS units. The victim was transported to Elmhurst Hospital Center with a fractured skull and other serious injuries.

Last Tuesday, Dec. 9, police released a sketch of one of the suspects involved in the attack. He was described as an African-American male between 18 and 20 years old standing 6' tall with a thin build.

The perpetrator was last observed wearing a dark baseball cap, black leather jacket, dark jeans and boots.

As noted, a $27,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the attack.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force.

Anyone with any information regarding the assault that could prove helpful is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. Cell phone users can send a text message to Crime Stoppers to 274637, followed by TIP577. All calls and messages will be kept confidential.