Georgetown Student Arrested In Possible Hate Crime

Source: NBC News

WASHINGTON -- Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier said Thursday a man has been arrested in a possible hate crime in Georgetown.

On Sept. 9, a man was attacked in the 1400 block of 36th Street in Northwest by a group of men yelling homophobic slurs. On Wednesday, an arrest warrant was obtained for 19-year-old Phillip Anderton Cooney, a Georgetown University student from Texas. He is charged with simple assault.

Police said they identified Cooney from Facebook.com, a college networking Web site.


Authorities said that, suspecting his attacker was a Georgetown student, the victim scoured profiles and photos on the site. He said he found a picture that resembled the description of the man who had beaten him.

"The Metropolitan Police Department takes all crime seriously and is committed to bringing a swift end to crimes of hate and bias," Lanier said. "All members of the community should feel safe and welcome in our neighborhoods without the fear that they may become the victim of random violence. Investigating hate crimes often involves delicate and personal matters, and I commend these officers for staying on top of the case while ensuring the victim's well-being."

The Georgetown attack was the first of three possible anti-gay crimes in Northwest in September. On Sept. 13 a transgender person was attacked in Chinatown, and a man was attacked at about 1 a.m. Saturday after leaving a gay bar near the Convention Center.

Lanier said police have not seen a spike in reported hate crimes, despite the attention these three attacks have received.

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Previous Stories:
September 25, 2007: Man Beaten After Leaving Gay Bar In Northwest
September 15, 2007: Police Investigating Hate Crimes Against Gays
September 14, 2007: Transgender Woman Attacked In D.C.