Man Beaten, Robbed on Queens Street in Apparent Hate Crime: NYPD

A man was punched and robbed by a group of people on a Queens street in an apparent hate crime, police said. 

Three men beat the 31-year-old victim and yelled homophobic slurs in Spanish at him on Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights at about 2 a.m. Wednesday, according to police. 

The victim fell to the ground during the attack, and the three men continued to punch and kick him. The suspects then stole $60, a credit card and city identification from the victim and fled.

The victim walked to Elmhurst Hospital and was treated for a concussion, police said. 

Police are classifying the assault as a hate crime and investigating as a bias attack. 

Residents say Roosevelt Avenue turns into a different place at night, when a rift between the gay community and neighbors who object is more easily exposed.

"The nighttime, it happens, but in the daytime it's quiet," said Juan Morales. 

"There's a lot of things that happen around here, it happens so much," said Yoselin Jaramillo.

Eric Herrera, who's lived in Jackson Heights for 16 years, said "we're an open commnity around here." 

Anyone with information about the attackers should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

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