Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Allegedly Gay Man Arrested For West Village Gay Bashing
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Apr 2, 2011
Modified Apr 2, 2011
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
Jaya Saxena
Published Apr 2, 2011
Modified Apr 2, 2011
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
Last weekend 26-year-old Damian Furtch was brutally beaten and verbally harassed outside of a McDonald's in the West Village, and police are investigating the attack as a hate crime. Two days ago police released surveillance video of the attackers, and now a 21-year-old homeless man has been arrested in connection with the beating. Anthony Bray was caught in Bushwick (NY1 reports he turned himself in), and confessed to attacking Furtch and yelling anti-gay slurs. He allegedly told cops he attacked Furtch "because he was disrespectful to him." However, Bray also claims to be gay. Not that that should matter.
Bray, who has been busted before on marijuana possession and robbery charges, has been charged with misdemeanor assault, though cops haven't ruled out hitting him with hate crime charges. Bray and another attacker allegedly yelled things like, “You Fucking F----t" while beating Furtch, leaving him with two black eyes and needing multiple stitches. However, one police source said, “It may come down to just two guys having a fistfight."
Police say Furtch exchanged words with Bray inside the McDonald's, provoking Bray to follow him outside and fight him. Furtch previously claims his attackers just gave him strange looks, and followed him when he left because he felt uncomfortable. Furtch said, "The attack against me is part of the larger issue of violence against gay and transgender people in New York City."
Tagged
arrest
damian furtch
gay bashing
west village
Jaya Saxena
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Coney Island's small, 1890s lighthouse may be landmarked by the city
It's in the private community of Sea Gate. Family members of the lighthouse's last civilian keeper are keeping its history alive.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 20, 2026 at 4:41 p.m. ET
New renderings are out for Queens' Metropolitan Park casino
The city's Public Design Commission taking a look at what's in store.
By
Willow Higgins
News
New renderings are out for Queens' Metropolitan Park casino
The city's Public Design Commission taking a look at what's in store.
By
Willow Higgins
Inside Luigi Mangione's legal strategy before his federal guilty plea
By
Samantha Max
NYC proposes crackdown down on AI customer service chatbots
By
Arya Sundaram
Early Addition: There's a new hot duck, this time in Queens
By
James Ramsay
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 .