Police Seek Six Suspects In NYC Subway Hate Crime

New York City police released sketches of two of the six people suspected of assaulting a 23-year-old man and his boyfriend on a subway train headed downtown on Monday night.

Police described all suspects — three men and three women — as in their early 20s, and are pursuing hate-crime charges, according to NBC New York.

Urena Morel Frankelly and his partner told police they were heading south on the No. 2 train Monday night, when a woman began taking pictures of them, leading to a confrontation where the suspects hurled antigay slurs at the couple, reported the New York Daily News. 

When Frankelly asked the woman why she was taking a picture of him eating food on the train, the suspect allegedly responded by shouting, "Feed your face, faggot."

The Daily News reports that another woman chimed in, apparently asking Frankelly's partner, "Why you with that faggot?"

An argument ensued, and the women were joined by three others and a man, who all attacked Frankelly, according to police. When Frankelly's partner attempted to intervene, he was repeatedly punched, reports the Daily News. Frankelly was treated at St. Luke's Hospital for a left eye swollen shut, with a cut above the socket.

Anyone with information about the assault is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.