Bronx man indicted for anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime assault in Midtown, DA says

A Bronx man has been indicted after allegedly verbally and physically assaulting a gay Hispanic couple in Midtown earlier this month, according to the Manhattan district attorney’s office.

Prosecutors said Jamile Daniel, 29, was charged with two counts of third-degree assault as a hate crime and two counts of second-degree aggravated harassment.

The incident happened shortly after 10 p.m. on March 18 near West 37th Street and Eighth Avenue. Prosecutors alleged Daniel approached a 25-year-old man and his 32-year-old partner, shouting homophobic and xenophobic slurs at them.

Daniel then allegedly punched each man in the face, causing them to fall to the ground. He fled the scene but was arrested minutes later by police, authorities said.

The victims were taken to a hospital. The 25-year-old man was treated for redness and substantial pain to his right cheek. His partner sustained bruising, redness and pain to his right eye.

“As alleged, Jamile Daniel viciously assaulted two men, who were out enjoying a walk together on a busy Midtown street,” Manhattan DA Bragg said in a statement. “This alleged conduct is repugnant and fueled by the defendant’s biases about the couple’s sexual orientation and heritage.

An attorney for Daniel was not immediately available for comment.

This is a developing story and may be updated.