April 26, 2017 By Christian Murray
Homophobic graffiti was sprayed on yet another Astoria building this week in what has become a widespread pattern.
The graffiti, scrawled in black paint over garage doors on 23rd Street (between 28th and 29th Avenues), read: “Obama Faggot” and “Obama Dyke.”
Police officers from the 114th precinct were at the scene yesterday and believe the perpetrator is the same individual who sprayed homophobic graffiti on the walls outside the 31-19 Newtown Avenue political offices of State Sen. Mike Gianaris and Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas on three different occasions in March. The words scrawled outside said “Obama faggot”
DNAinfo was first to report the story.
Deputy Inspector Peter Fortune, the commanding officer of the 114th Precinct, said that the hate crimes task force is working on the case. He said that prior to Tuesday’s vandalism there were eight prior incidents.
He said that the same set of garages were sprayed with homophobic writings a few weeks ago.
The precinct released video footage of the man believed to be the perpetrator of these incidents on March 20.
Fortune said that the precinct still does not have any firm leads on the suspect, although he believes the suspect is from the neighborhood. He said that the precinct is looking for help from the public in identifying the perpetrator.
