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Suspect Arrested In Beating Of Journalist Randy Gener

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- An arrest has been made in connection with the brutal beating of a well-known New York theatre journalist.

Leighton Jennings, 24, of Queens was arrested Wednesday and charged with second-degree assault.

Randy Gener, 45, was viciously punched in the face near West 54th Street and Seventh Avenue in the early hours of Jan. 17, police said. His wallet, phone and gold necklace were not taken.

He was feet just away from his apartment building at the time, returning home from an opening night theatre party on Broadway.

Gener underwent brain surgery and was last listed in stable condition at St. Luke's Hospital. His relatives said he remembers little about the attack and faces additional surgery.

Gener is an award-winning journalist who has worked for the New York Daily News, The New York Times, the Village Voice and NPR.

He is active in the city's Filipino and gay communities and the case had been investigated as a hate crime.

Police said their investigation determined that the attack was not of a bias nature.

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