An Albany man says he was punched in the face at a pizza shop around 3 a.m. Saturday morning by an employee there who was allegedly yelling homophobic slurs during...
A black eye, six stitches, and possible blindness out of one eye for 23-year-old Vincent Webster of Albany.
He said a night out on the town turned into a nightmare.
Webster and his best friend, who prefers to remain nameless, stopped by Yankee’s Pizza on Central Ave after hanging out at nearby Rocks Bar.
Vincent said he spilled some parmesan cheese and that is when a confrontation ensued.
“I went to brush cheese off my clothes and one of employees goes you (expletive deleted), get the (expletive deleted) out of my bar, you are making a (expletive deleted) mess you stupid (expletive deleted),” Webster said.
Webster said as he was getting up to leave an employee punched him in the face.
“He knocked me in the face multiple times and two other employees working were screaming knock that (expletive deleted) out,” Webster said.
“We did not egg them on, we dropped the cheese,” Abby said.
“He provoked me,” 20-year-old Jamil Karimi, who works at Yankee’s Pizza, said.
He said Webster threw a slice of pizza in his face and that is when he reacted.
“I hit him once, that is it,” Karimi said.
Albany Police said they arrested Karimi and charged him with assault (3rd Degree).
Police said they are looking to see if it is a biased-related crime.
Webster said he thinks this incident happened because he is gay.
“I don’t hate gay people or no one else…I never called him any names or anything,” Karimi said. “He turned it into, we hate gays this and that and I’m like if we hated gays, we would not open a store near two gay bars,” Javid Karimi, Yankee’s Pizza Owner, said.
On Sunday the pizzeria was pretty empty.
The owner said they’ve lost business since this incident.
“It’s a big headache because I lost almost half my business,” Javid Karimi said.
Those involved said they wish it never would have happened.
“In this community we should be together and not against each other for stupid little things,” Webster said.
“I don’t think ill ever raise my hand again, not ever, because it’s not worth it,” Jamil Karimi said.
The Capital District Gay and Lesbian Community Council said they are working with police to determine if this was a biased related crime.
Police wouldn’t comment on the incident any further as of Saturday that to say they are investigating.
As a response, Albany Queer Rising is hosting a community response to violence on Tuesday, October 26th at 6pm with a dual message: ending violence against LGBTQ people AND anti-Muslim discrimination.
The location of the rally is the intersection of Henry Johnson Blvd & Central Avenue in Albany, NY- specifically the park with the statue.
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