Newark police said it is too early to determine whether the June 23 assault of a 70-year-old Black man should be prosecuted as a hate crime, according to the Finger Lakes Times.
Police said Johnny “Tat” White suffered jaw and orbital fractures after a neighbor allegedly used racial slurs and struck him from behind with a piece of lumber.
Brandon Watt, 39, has been charged with assault, endangering the welfare of a child and criminal possession of a weapon.
The Wayne County district attorney will ultimately decide whether the evidence supports additional hate-crime charges.
Community groups have called for a full review of the case, greater transparency and a sentence reflecting the alleged racial harassment and severity of White’s injuries.
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