D.A. Bragg Announces Hate Crime Indictment Of Man In Homophobic Attack At West Harlem Station

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of TAVAUGHN THOMPSON, 26, for allegedly assaulting a 27-year-old person in an anti-gay attack at the 125th Street subway station in West Harlem in December 2023. THOMPSON is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with two counts of Assault in the Third Degree as a Hate Crime and one count of Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree [1]

"New Yorkers deserve to be safe using our transit system without fear of violence, discrimination or harassment," said District Attorney Bragg. "As alleged, Tavaughn Thompson targeted a stranger because of their perceived sexual orientation in an unprovoked, bias-motivated attack. Our Hate Crimes Unit is committed to protecting the safety and dignity of Manhattanites by holding accountable those responsible for these harmful acts, and I urge anyone who has been a victim or witness to a hate crime to report by calling 212-335-3100."

As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record in court, on December 29, 2023, THOMPSON and the victim were both onboard the same car on a northbound A train that was traveling from the West 14th Street and 8th Avenue station. At approximately 8:35 p.m., as THOMPSON and the victim exited the train at the 125th Street stop, near 125 Street and 8th Avenue, THOMPSON allegedly punched the victim several times, causing bruising and pain to the left side of the face. THOMPSON repeatedly called the victim an anti-gay slur both before and during the alleged assault. A Good Samaritan intervened and separated THOMPSON from the victim. The victim eventually went to the hospital.

THOMPSON was arrested and arraigned in Criminal Court in February 2026.

Assistant D.A. John Ludtke (Trial Bureau 60) is handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Constantine Coritsidis (Deputy Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit), Hannah Yu (Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit) and Executive D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division).

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly Detective Lysette Feliciano Tengco and the other members of the Hate Crimes Task Force.

Defendant Information:

TAVAUGHN THOMPSON

Bronx, NY

Charged:

• Assault in the Third Degree, a class E felony, two counts
• Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor, one count

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.