Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Gay Bash Suspect's Father Takes Blame, Friend Defends Him
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 16, 2009
Modified Oct 16, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 16, 2009
Modified Oct 16, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Initial reports about the brutal beating of an openly gay Queens man Friday night (video) mentioned that one of the alleged assailants told the victim, "My father is a C.O. [correction officer]. You will never do anything to us." That stupid boast had been unsubstantiated, until now. Last night the father of Daniel Rodriguez, the second man arrested in the alleged hate crime against Jack Price, came forward to speak to reporters.
Retired New York correction officer Daniel Rodriguez, Sr. tearfully told the press, "I want to say to Mr. Price that I'm sorry for my son, and that he wasn't the one that caused him harm. I caused him the harm the minute I stopped being a father to my son. I hurt him." Prosecutors say Rodriguez confessed to detectives when he was arrested Wednesday at a hideout in Virginia; he's claiming that Price provoked him by writing graffiti of a sexual nature in the bodega where the confrontation began.
Rodriguez, who pleaded not-guilty yesterday, is said to have told detectives, "I was angry, cause Jack is disgusting." The graffiti claim seems to have been corroborated by a Gothamist commenter who identified himself as Anthony Vergara. (An Anthony Vergara on Facebook is friends with suspect Daniel Rodriguez.) The commenter writes:
I know Danny Rodriguez, I have known him for 5 years and we are close friends. What Danny did was wrong and it was a mistake to take his actions to that extreme and I cant believe Danny hurt this man the way he did. That being said, Danny didn't beat Jack Price because he was gay, he beat him becuase Jack was writing a graffiti message at the deli with his phone number, offering gay sexual acts.
This was not the first time Jack has done this because I have seen similar writings by him around College Point and in Flushing. Others have seen them too. Danny saw him writing the graffiti, asked him to stop and Jack blew him a kiss. They then got into a verbal arguement and Danny lost his temper and decided to take actions into his own hands. Danny already knew Jack because I have heard Danny talk about him before and the things Jack has done in the neighborhood. Danny would not attack an innocent man buying cigarettes just because he is gay and I know this.
Prosecutors say Rodriguez admitted to using an anti-gay slur and stealing Price's wallet. But Price insists he did not write any graffiti and did nothing to provoke the attack. After emerging from a medically-induced coma, he is gradually recovering. The assault left him with collapsed lungs, broken ribs, damaged spleen, and a metal plate in his jaw. He is having his breathing tubes taken out soon, and is expected home in a couple days. On Saturday there will be a march and rally in College Point to protest homophobia and celebrate diversity; details here.
Tagged
college point
daniel rodriguez
father
hate crime
jack price
nyc
queens
suspect
video
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man charged with hate crime at Jewish-owned bagel shop displaying Israeli flags
Prosecutors say the 22-year-old damaged property outside the Fresh Meadows shop twice in May.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 6:07 p.m. ET
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
News
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
High-ranking NYC officials to testify in ex-buildings boss Eric Ulrich's corruption trial
By
David Brand
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
By
Caroline Lewis
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .