Press Release
WOMAN CHARGED WITH HATE CRIME FOR THROWING BOTTLE AT FEMALE JOGGER AND CALLING HER THE N-WORD
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Lorena Delaguna, 53, has been charged with attempted assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment for allegedly throwing a bottle at a passing jogger and using a racial epithet on August 17, 2020 in Woodside, Queens.
District Attorney Katz said, “In addition to allegedly yelling the N-word, the defendant in this case is also accused of throwing a bottle in an attempt to strike the victim. Crimes like this, which are fueled by hate, are in a special category for a reason. No one should have to endure being called a vile slur or being attacked simply because of the color of their skin, their religion, or who they love.”
Delaguna, of 51st Street in Woodside, Queens, was arraigned this morning before Queens Criminal Court Judge Jeffrey Gershuny on a complaint charging her with attempted assault in the second degree as a hate crime and aggravated harassment in the second degree. Judge Gershuny ordered the defendant to return to court on Friday, September 25, 2020. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 7 years in prison.
District Attorney Katz said that, in the early afternoon on August 17th, an African-American woman out for a jog was suddenly surprised when the defendant allegedly threw a glass bottle at her. The bottle shattered near the jogger, splashing liquid on her. The defendant is also accused of yelling and cursing at the victim, telling her to get out of here and go back to Africa and calling her the N-word.
Continuing, according to the charges, the jogger kept moving in an attempt to get away from the defendant. Delaguna allegedly continued to follow her for at least a block while yelling and threatening the victim.
The investigation was conducted by Detectives Gregory Wilson, Michael Diaz and Jacob Habib of the New York Police Department’s Hate Crimes Task Force.
Assistant District Attorney Michael E. Brovner, Chief of the Hate Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney of the Trial Division Pishoy Yacob.
**Criminal complaints and indictments are accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.