News (USA)

Disabled man brutally beat until he lost teeth & left for dead because stranger thought he was gay

Man beaten in street
Photo: Shutterstock

An 18-year-old has been indicted on charges that he beat up a mentally disabled man, robbing him, and leaving him for dead, all based on his belief that the victim was gay. The 37-year-old victim was found unconscious with broken bones and several missing teeth.

Jose Tobias Carranza Serrano faces 40 to 50 years in prison if convicted on charges of attempted homicide, bias intimidation, robbery, and aggravated assault.

Related: Man stabbed his own father to death because gay relationship “tarnished” family’s reputation

“We will not tolerate violence targeting the LGBTQ+ community,” New Jersey acting attorney general Andrew Bruck said. “There is simply no excuse for this type of hate.”

The attack occurred early late on June 21 into the morning of June 22 in Braddock Park in New Jersey, which faces Manhattan, New York, just across the Hudson River.

The victim’s 27-year-old sister said that his family became concerned when he didn’t return after his usual evening walk. Near 6 a.m. on June 22, a jogger discovered the man badly beaten in the park and contacted the police.

He sustained multiple injuries, including fractured facial bones, bruises, loss of teeth as well as kidney and liver damage. He was placed into a coma and remains on a ventilator.

Medical examination found that his assailant had tried to strangle him and gouge his eyes out. His assailant also stole eight dollars and a cell phone from the victim.

Police eventually arrested Serrano, who also goes by the name Kevin Lopez. Serrano reportedly had blood on his clothes at the time of his arrest, confessed to the crime, and admitted that he didn’t know his victim but targeted him for his sexual orientation.

“He expressed no remorse to the detectives and said that he was ‘satisfied’ with what he had done to the victim, who was a stranger to him,” Deputy Attorney General Danielle Scarduzio said at his bail hearing.

Serrano was charged with attempted homicide, bias intimidation, robbery, and aggravated assault. He’s being held at the Hudson County jail. A judge denied him bail, saying that he was a flight risk, would obstruct the investigation, and would potentially harm others if released, NJ.com reported.

A grand jury returned an indictment against Serrano on September 15. He could face 40 to 50 years in prison if convicted.

Serrano originated from the Baltimore area and was connected to the assault after being arrested on unrelated charges elsewhere in New Jersey.

The victim’s sister said after Serrano’s arrest, “It’s hard to believe someone would beat him to that extent. There’s no reason to do that to another person. They broke half of his face…

“[He] has the mind of a five-year-old, so I have never thought about whether he is gay or not,” she added.

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