Hate crime victim taken off life support

(Brooklyn - WABC, October 13, 2006) - The family of a Brooklyn man unplugged him from a life-support machine, and police are considering increasing charges against the three men accused of luring him to a secluded spot and beating him into a coma.

Eyewitness News has learned, twenty-eight-year-old Michael Sandy was taken off life support at Brookdale Hospital Friday afternoon. His family left him on life support in a coma since the Sunday night attack.

Three suspects were charged with bias crimes in connection with the attack that put Sandy in a coma.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the charges could be upgraded if Sandy died.

The suspects allegedly met Sandy in an Internet chat room for gay men and lured him to Plumb Beach near Sheepshead Bay on the pretense of having sex.

According to criminal complaints, the suspects, all from Sheepshead Bay, jumped Sandy when he arrived at Plumb Beach.

"While there, [they] dragged Mr. Sandy out of his car, punched Mr. Sandy, and Mr. Sandy then ran onto the Belt Parkway" and was struck by a car, according to the complaints, quoting statements by the suspects.

"After Sandy had been struck .. . and was laying on the ground, informants observed [one of them] go through his pockets," the complaint said.