Vernon Douglas, pictured, allegedly attacked three Sikh men in separate incidents in April. In two incidents, he was shirtless and carrying a wooden stick (screenshot @JapneetSingh4NY).
July 3, 2022 By Christian Murray
A Brooklyn teenager, who was facing hate crime charges for allegedly attacking three Sikh men in separate incidents in Queens, was stabbed to death on Thursday.
Vernon Douglas, 19, was stabbed in the chest at around 9 p.m. in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. He had been in a dispute with another man prior to the stabbing.
Douglas was transported to Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The cops have yet to apprehend the suspect.
His killing comes less than two months after he allegedly attacked a number of Sikh men in the Richmond Hill section of Queens as hate crimes.
Douglas allegedly attacked and robbed three Sikh men—including a 70-year-old man—in separate incidents near the intersection of 95th Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard between April 3 and April 12.
Vernon Douglas (NYPD) and Nirmal Singh, 70, who was assaulted in Richmond Hill as a hate crime in April (Photo @JapneetSingh4NY)
Douglas had been charged with robbery in the first and second degree as a hate crime, several counts of assault as a hate crime, as well as assault of an elderly person—among other crimes. He was facing 25 years in prison.
In two of the incidents, he allegedly approached his victims while walking down the street shirtless and carrying a wooden stick.
Sikh leaders were outraged by the attacks and were concerned for their safety.
Japneet Singh, a community leader, told the Queens Post in April that many Sikhs live in Richmond Hill and are now worried about their safety.
“For [the attacks] to happen in our home—that we call Little Punjab — a lot of people are very saddened and just scared,” he said.
Singh couldn’t be reached for comment following Douglas’ death.
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