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Man allegedly throws hot coffee at Muslim woman and calls her a terrorist in Manhattan

The suspect has been charged with a felony hate crime

Justin Carissimo
New York
Monday 19 December 2016 20:57 GMT
(Mr.TinDC/Flickr)

A homeless man repeatedly attacked a 21-year-old Muslim woman at a Dunkin’ Donuts in Manhattan on Sunday while calling her a terrorist and throwing his hot coffee in her face, police sources told the New York Daily News.

The incident took place at 2:45 pm on West 35th Street near Seventh Avenue. Mason Gray, the 34-year-old suspect, ordered coffee then approached several Muslim women sitting together a table, allegedly.

"I gave him coffee and he said something to me about terrorists, but I couldn't hear what he was saying. He walked away from me and sat next to a group of Muslim women," one unnamed employee told the newspaper.

At some point, the suspect yelled out: "I hate Muslims, I'm a cop, and I'm going to kill you." Then, he threw his cup of hot coffee at the woman and the woman in the face with his bag, allegedly.

As the woman fled the coffee shop, Gray followed her outside, put her in a headlock and said he was going to kill her, police told the Daily News.

Police responded to 911 calls, arrested Gray, and eventually charged him with felony hate crime assault. The victim refused medical treatment when first responders arrived at the scene.

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