CCTV footage of a man throwing a brick at the window of an NYC gay bar went viral earlier this week. The owner of the bar shared the video on social media.
David DeParolesa runs Vers in Hell’s Kitchen. He says someone has thrown bricks at the window three times in five days. He and his staff believe it was the same person. The window was shatterproof but still cracked.
DeParolesa released the CCTV footage as he says the NYPD appeared to be getting nowhere with their investigations. He hoped someone might identify the man.
That CCTV footage led to other, clearer footage of the same man shopping at a nearby bodega.
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Yesterday, cops made an arrest. They took Sean Kuilan, 34, into custody and are charging him with reckless endangerment and criminal mischief for the three attacks.
Related: Man caught on camera throwing brick at NYC gay bar is broadcast online for entire internet to ID
On the way to court, cops walked Kuilan in front of the media. Asked why he’d appeared to attack a gay bar, Kuilan said, “I’m gay myself.”
Asked for the reason he’d attacked the gay bar, he replied “something personal”. He later told investigators he was “exacting revenge” on behalf of a female friend who had an ongoing issue with someone at the bar.
NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said, “Basically, what he says [is] he knows a girl who had a problem with one of the guys in the bar and he was exacting revenge. As of right now we don’t have any reason to believe it is [a hate crime].”
Vers in Hell’s Kitchen thanks people for their support
Besides the gay bar incident, Kuilan was also sought on a warrant in a menacing case from September 2, 2021, reports NY Post. On that occasion, he’s alleged to have pulled a knife on someone and threatened, “Are you okay with dying?”
Besides the three attacks in recent days, a fourth attack on the window took place a few weeks ago. However, there’s no CCTV or other evidence to link that to Kuilan.
DeParolesa told the Post he was happy over the arrest, and an increased police presence in the neighborhood following the media coverage. News of the window attack came just hours after a gunman killed five at an LGBTQ bar in Colorado Springs, heightening fears and tension in the community.
Related: Remember them: These are the 5 victims of the Colorado Club Q shooting
“I am really happy that the case is moving forward and that the detectives on the case have been diligent and that there’s progress. I really do hope it’s just this one person and that we can close the book — I’m uncertain it is.”
The bar also posted a statement thanking people for their support.
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humble charlie
someone probably shpritzed on his eyeglasses too many times.
Jack Meoff
Gay or not he sounds like he has issues.
abfab
It’s noepreen. Lock her up!
Neoprene
Nah girrrrl! I only throw bricks in Denver. Strange, though, we haven’t heard from CAM(MIE) in a few days, eh?
dbmcvey
Yeah, neoprene seems like he’d go around throwing bricks in a fit of spite.
EdWoody
FFS, stop doing this, Queerty writers! No, he is not LGBTQ. A person is one, two of those things at most, not all of them at once. This person says he is a gay, not lesbian and bisexual and transgender. Call the community whatever ridiculous acronym you want, but call the person gay. That’s just simple f’ing logic.
Neoprene
They write for Queerty. You expect critical thinking? Queerty is the porn of journalism.
LumpyPillows
Why, when he says he’s gay, does the headline insist on claiming he’s LGBTQ? It’s like being gay is now offensive.
Neoprene
We’re all fluid, dear. I was trans last week now I’m back to being plain old cis gay.
dbmcvey
Neoprene saying he was trans. That seems about his level.