NYPD: 2 Suspects Facing Hate Crime Charge For Threatening Muslim Worker For Not Having Slushies
MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The NYPD is accusing a couple of going on an anti-immigrant tirade on Long Island.
CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported a belligerent couple were caught on camera threatening a Pakistani-American worker at a Cedarhurst Gasoline Mart because he didn't stock iced slushie drinks.
"Soon as they walked in they were cursing, 'Vulgar Muslims,'" G.S. Singh, the victim's boss, said. "She was telling the other guy who was her partner, 'Kill him, kill him, kill him, kill him.'"
Detectives said the woman shouted hateful curses and anti-Muslim rhetoric as her male friend went on a rampage. He destroyed a $4,000 lotto machine, ransacked merchandise, and heaved it toward the head of the Muslim worker. He also demanded he accept their food stamps and electronic benefits transfer card.
"The catalyst was that they did not have this slushie drink and then it evolved from there to verbal altercation to very disparaging, very harmful remarks," Nassau County Police Detective Lt. Richard LeBrun said.
The gas station owner is Sikh and his business has never dealt with an incident like this before.
Dozens of daily regulars of all faiths said they're horrified that strangers could treat a loyal and hard-working American with such extreme bias.
"Every single day I come here to buy my newspaper and Red Bulls. It is really amazing how somebody can take something from what somebody else does and blame it one someone else," customer Noah Goorland said.
The suspects were last seen entering a dark-colored four-door sedan in the parking lot of a Starbucks across the street at 9:45 p.m. on Saturday.
The two suspects face a hate crime charge for their violence and intimidation of the Muslim worker and destruction of a convenience store.
Police are trying to determine if their welfare benefits card was issued in New York City.
