2nd Arrest in Hate Crime Killing

By
Brian Zumhagen
WNYC News | Jul 12, 2010

New York, NY —

City officials have announced a second arrest in the killing of an Ecuadorean immigrant.

28-year-old Keith Phoenix may be charged with second degree murder as a hate crime in the killing of Jose Sucuzhanay last December.

Sucuzhanay and his brother were walking arm-in-arm in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn when they were attacked with a baseball bat by men shouting anti-Latino and anti-gay slurs.

Brooklyn district attorney Charles Hynes says the city can't stand by idly when such bias crimes are committed:

HYNES: These two young men were attacked because these people, these cretons thought they were gay. And it makes it no less despicable that they weren't gay but the message is very clear, we will not tolerate as a society people being identified because of their sexuality or any other difference.

REPORTER: Hynes called the investigation one of the most extraordinary partnerships he's ever been involved in.

An alleged accomplice, Hakim Scott, was arrested Wednesday and also faces a hate crime murder charge.

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Brian Zumhagen

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