Two Bronx Attack Defendants Named As Victims

Two teenagers previously thought among the perpetrators of a brutal antigay attack in the Bronx, New York are now being named as victims.

The gang-related torture at an abandoned building in Morris Heights shocked New York City in October as one of the most heinous hate crimes reported in years. Two teenage victims were targeted because of their involvement with an older man, whose brother also was attacked.

According to WNYC, "Until now, investigators have maintained there were four victims that night, two men and two teenagers. But the grand jury has named two new victims, Bryan Almonte and Brian Cepeda. Those are the same names of two of the defendants originally charged in the case and later released, though prosecutors have not confirmed they are the same people.

"The indictment says Almonte was assaulted while Cepeda was threatened with a pair of pliers. The four other victims were allegedly attacked with a can, a stick, a pipe, a bat and a lit cigarette."

Defendants face a total of 75 counts, including gang assault, sexual abuse, and robbery, with several charged as hate crimes. The most serious counts each could bring a maximum of 25 years in prison, reports WNYC.