Police say they have arrested a 34-year-old New York City man who officials say splashed a liquid in a 13-year-old girl's face as she got off an MTA bus in Queens while also saying something derogatory about white people.
Alexis Cabezas is charged with second-degree aggravated harassment as a hate crime, acting in a manner injurious to a child and second-degree harassment, according to police.
Officials say the middle-schooler was getting off the Q10 bus at Lefferts Boulevard and 101st Avenue in Lefferts Garden Tuesday afternoon when she was attacked by a stranger who allegedly ran up to her and splashed a liquid in her face while yelling an anti-white remark.
The girl reported burning to her eyes and was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where she was treated and released, police said.
The girl's father, Vincent Evangelista, said that it was his "worst nightmare" when he got the call that his daughter had been attacked.
"She's not going to let this incident stop her from her life," he said. "She still has that love, charity esteem in her heart towards people realizing there are many, many good people out there."
The NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force investigated the crime.
