Hurled Slurs, Then Shot Man Dressed As Woman
Three Brooklyn men accused of shouting anti-gay profanities and shooting a man dressed as a woman on a Bushwick block last Saturday morning, Sept. 27, were booked on hate crime charges, law enforcement sources said.
Police identified the suspected shooter as 21-year-old Matthew Smith of Putnam Avenue in Bushwick; he was reportedly accompanied by 22-year-old Cody Sigue, also of Putnam Avenue in Bushwick, and 17- year-old Tavon Johnson of Tompkins Avenue in Bedford- Stuyvesant.
Authorities said the incident occurred at 7 a.m. in front of Smith’s home on Putnam Avenue near Evergreen Avenue.
According to information provided by the Kings County District Attorney’s office, the 22- year-old male victim and an unidentified male friend-both wearing women’s clothing- were walking through the area when the three suspects allegedly began shouting homophobic slurs at them.
The 22-year-old victim reportedly began to run away, and the three suspects pursued him, police noted. Seconds later, law enforcement sources said, Smith pulled out a handgun and opened fire, striking the man in the buttocks.
Officers from the 83rd Precinct and EMS units responded to the scene. Paramedics brought the victim to Brookdale University Hospital, where he was treated and later released.
Police caught the three suspects a short time later. Sigue and Johnson were charged with menacing as a hate crime, thirddegree menacing, aggravated harassment and second-degree harassment.
Smith, meanwhile, was charged with second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault and thirddegree menacing as hate crimes. He was additionally booked for second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, aggravated harassment and harassment.
According to court records, the three were arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court on Sunday, Sept. 28, before Judge Alex Calabrese, who ordered Smith held without bail and released Sigue and Johnson on their own recognizance.
Smith is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 3, while the other suspects’ must return on Oct. 10.
