Angel Mario, an ex-convict with nearly 100 prior arrests, was charged with a hate crime this week for allegedly spray-painting an anti-Asian slur at a liquor store in Queens (NYC).
The 43-year-old suspect lives in a homeless shelter. The New York Post reported that he was arrested on Tuesday and charged with criminal mischief, a hate crime and aggravated assault in connection with the vandalism that occurred last month.
Mario reportedly got off a train at Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue station at around 10:45 p.m. on April 19 and walked to a bus stop at the corner of Mott Avenue and Beach Channel Drive, where he allegedly shouted “Mott Ave. Liquor and” attacked. Liquor” business.
Police said the words “F-k u, g-k” were written on the front door of the business. After this, the attacker escaped from the bus.
The New York Police Department said its Hate Crimes Task Force was investigating the incident, and late last month released surveillance footage of the suspect.
Mario, whose address is listed at the Kingsboro Star Men’s Shelter in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, has at least 100 open arrests on his record.
State corrections records show he served nearly a year in state prison for a grand larceny conviction before being granted parole in 2020.
He previously spent four years in state prison for criminal sale of a controlled substance and was released in 2012, records show. Police said most of his previous arrests have been for shoplifting or graffiti.
All charges are only allegations and the person charged is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
