Man Punched at East Village Bar May Have Been Targeted Because He's Gay: Report

EAST VILLAGE, NY — A man who was punched unconscious by a stranger at B Bar and Grill in the East Village on Wednesday night may have been the target of a homophobic attack, according to NBC News.

The man was attacked at around 11 p.m., a New York City Police Department (NYPD) spokesperson told Patch, but he did not immediately contact police. He went to Lennox Hill Hospital and reported the attack to police the next morning, according to the NYPD.

The man, identified by NBC as Barrett, told NBC that he believed the attack was initiated by a gang and that he was targeted because he is gay.

An NYPD spokesperson could not confirm the cause of the attack, but told Patch that there was a witness at the scene, which was at 40 E. 4th St.

B Bar and Grill did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

Lead photo via Google Maps