Having allegedly left his victim with a black eye, a bruised forehead and several other injuries because the victim is gay Police are now hunting for the man in this photograph whose name according to NYPD is Roman Gornell. His victim, Dan Contarino says. “It’s very sad, but I’m lucky I’m alive.” The attack happened Monday night, as Contarino was walking past a homeless shelter at East 4th Street and Avenue D in the East Village when Roman approached him and started up a conversation and called him an anti-gay slur. “And then the next thing I know, I was in the hospital. I have no memory of what exactly happened to me,” Contarino said.
The suspect who allegedly attacked Contarino has been identified as Roman Gornell. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said Gornell has an extensive arrest history and has been living at the Bowery Mission for the past month. He is still wanted by the NYPD. Kelly said Contarino and Gornell both lived at the Bowery Mission, and had known each other about a month. They’d had drinks and pizza in the area earlier that night, and as they were returning, Contarino allegedly told Gornell he was gay, Kelly said. Gornell at first talked about how he had friends and family who are gay, but then allegedly snapped and attacked him. NYPD have beefed up their presence in the wake of an increasing number of hate crimes against the gay community which left one man dead a few days ago. If you have any information regarding this suspect please contact NYPD.
