‘Career Criminal’: Cops Release Name Of Suspect In Horrific BBQ Restaurant Violent Gay Bashing

The police have released the name of the man they believe took a chair and cracked it over the heads of a same-sex couple in an NYC restaurant.

Bayna El-Amin. 

That is the name of the 41-year old man police suspect in a horrific, violent hate crime the night of May 5, Cinco de Mayo, at a New York City barbecue restaurant.

“I have him identified, we are seeking him now. He’s been identified for about a week. We will see if we can get him in,” said NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce. “He is a career criminal. We believe he has fled the state.”

The police attribute the ID to a half-dozen CrimeStoppers tips.

Around 11 PM on May 5, Jonathan Snipes, 32, and his boyfriend Ethan York-Adams, 25, were eating at Chelsea’s Dallas BBQ and hurrying to leave after Snipes got a text saying there was a death in the family. He accidentally spilled a drink, and says the suspect called them “white faggots.”

After Snipes confronted him, a fight broke out, culminating with the suspect whacking the couple over the head with a chair. 

The disturbing video, captured by Isaam Sharef, shows the man police believe to be Bayna El-Amin, taking a wooden and cracking it over the couple’s heads. 

Gawker did some investigating, and reports a “cursory internet search reveals several clues into El-Amin’s criminal past.”

In 2005, he was arrested for violating probation and for failure to appear in court. In 2006, he was locked up for about three months on a forgery charge, according to Mugshots.com, which also lists invasion of privacy, credit card fraud, a violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act, and a miscellaneous misdemeanor. That site lists his height at 6’6” and his weight at 325 lbs. On Mugshot Record Search, he’s listed as 6’7” and both 340 lbs., and 250 lbs. All say he was born in 1974. Police have identified their suspect’s age as 41.

CBS New York reports their sources “tell CBS2 El-Amin has 15 prior arrests including Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan and New Jersey. Most of the arrests are for assault and drug possession, sources said.”

There is also a claim that Bayna El-Amin is gay, which, contrary to most reporting, does not make this any less of a hate crime. Police earlier this month announced they are investigating the attack as a hate crime.

 

Related:

Full Video: Violent Hate Attack As Diner Whacks Gay Couple With Chair In NYC Restaurant

Watch: Victim In Horrific NYC Dallas BBQ Restaurant Gay Bashing Hate Crime Speaks

Do You Know Who This Is? NYPD Releases Image Of Man Suspected Of Bashing Gay Couple With Chair

 

Image: Twitter and isaam sharef/Instagram