NYPD: Suspect Wanted For Spray Painting Anti-Chinese Graffiti In Brooklyn
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police have released surveillance video of a suspect who they say is wanted for spray painting anti-Chinese graffiti in Brooklyn.
Police say a surveillance camera outside the Greenfood supermarket on 20th Avenue near 86th Street in Bensonhurst captured the suspect spray painting a profane message on their wall, CBS2' Janelle Burrell reported.
"That's not fair," supermarket employee Ling Yong said. "They get angry, everybody get angry."
Store manager Andy Cai was the first to see the graffiti and notified police.
"Pretty angry. When we saw it, we called 911 right away," Cai said.
Investigators say it was around 2:30 a.m. last Saturday that the man went around the neighborhood, using a stencil to pain the messages on at least seven storefronts, fences and pillars on 86th Street and nearby blocks.
Most of the vandalism, according to community leaders, was on or near Chinese-owned businesses.
"It's disgraceful," resident Marie Bove said. "They do their business, work a lot of hard hours and they don't bother anybody."
Community leaders and people who live in the diverse neighborhood are now hoping the case gets enough publicity that someone will recognize the suspect and identify him for police.
"We really want the police officer to find the guy as soon as possible to avoid the guy to hurt another person in the future," said Cai.
On Monday, community leaders rallied in a stand against intolerance.
"Someone took their time to shape their racist thought," said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. "This is a premeditated action."
"We will always stand up against hate in Bensonhurst," Councilman Mark Treyger said.
The NYPD Hate Crime Tax Force Unit is investigating. In addition, Adams is offering a $1,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782), visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
