US: Three arrested over New York anti-gay shooting

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Three thugs who hurled anti-gay slurs and shot a person in New York have been arrested.

On Saturday morning in Bushwick, the trio had approached the victim, who was walking with a friend.

The trio shouted homophobic abuse, before shooting the victim in the buttocks when they tried to run away.

Matthew Smith, 21, was charged with first degree assault, while 17-year-old Tavon Johnson and 22-year-old Cody Sigue were charged with third degree menacing as a hate crime.

 

An initial police report said the 22-year-old victim was a “man dressed as a woman”, but their identity has not been made public.

The victim was taken to Brookdale University Hospital following the shooting, but has since been released.

Daquan Ruddock, 24, told NY Daily News: “It’s messed up. That shows how gay people can’t walk around in the street without someone saying something or doing something towards them. It’s sad.”