Man Scrawls 'Kill The Gay Away' On East Village Building: NYPD

EAST VILLAGE, NY — Cops are searching for a man who scrawled "Kill The Gay Away" on a roll-down gate in the East Village, police said.

The man walked up to a vacant building at 11 Avenue A at Second Street and wrote the homophobic message in black spray paint, police said.

He is 5-foot-6 tall with curly long blonde hair and was last seen wearing a green shirt and a yellow messenger bag, according to police.

The NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the incident, which occurred Thursday, August 8 about 2:40 a.m., police said.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed the State Police Hate Crimes Unit to help out the NYPD "to ensure those responsible are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," he tweeted Saturday.

"In New York we have zero tolerance for this sort of vile and cowardly act of hate," Cuomo wrote on Twitter.

Cops are offering up to $2,500 for tips.

The graffiti at 11 Avenue A, which is now under investigation by the @NYPDHateCrimes Task Force, has been cleaned. If you’ve got any information about it or it’s perpetrator, there’s a reward—up to $2500! ☎️ 1-800-577-TIPS or DM @NYPDTips. #YourCityYourCall pic.twitter.com/fFwZD4uTKX
— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) August 10, 2019