Long Island Man Charged for Hateful Crime Spree
Perpetrator allegedly harassed LGBTQ and Jewish folks, carried out series of shootings
BY TAT BELLAMY-WALKER
A Long Island man is facing
a slew of charges for
allegedly carrying out
a series of shootings
across Suffolk County and harassing
several victims based on their
sexuality and religion.
Suffolk County District Attorney
Timothy Sini announced the indictment
of Christopher Keller, 36, of
Manorville, on April 16 after he allegedly
went on a shooting spree and
used Instagram to send homophobic,
anti-Semitic messages and threats
to victims he believed were Jewish
or LGBTQ. Keller also allegedly used
a telephone to spew hateful rhetoric.
Keller’s shootings — which did not
injure anyone — targeted a house in
Kings Park; businesses in Holtsville,
Medford, and Nesconset; and vehicles
at a house in Medford, according
to prosecutors.
A Long Island man was indicted for targeting victims based on their sexuality and religion.
In a statement, Sini denounced
the string of hate-fueled crimes.
“This defendant is an alleged
menace who has terrorized a
number of individuals in our community
based on his perception
of their religion and their sexual
REUTERS/DADO RUVIC/ILLUSTRATION
orientation,” Sini said in a written
statement on April 16. He further
added that the disturbing messages
directed at individuals on social
media “caused victims to fear for
their lives and the safety of their
loved ones.”
CRIME
An investigation led by the district
attorney’s offi ce revealed that
Keller targeted victims between
last July and February of this year,
according to prosecutors. Authorities
say he allegedly sent victims
messages with “death threats,
maps with their addresses marked
off, photos of their family members,
and violently pornographic
images.”
Keller is facing a 36 counts, including
felony aggravated harassment
as a hate crime, menacing in
the second degree, and aggravated
harassment in the second degree.
During his arraignment, authorities
requested that Keller be held in
jail. However, he was released on a
$300,000 cash bond, with GPS monitoring
and supervision by the Suffolk
County Probation Department.
Keller returns to court on May
3 and faces up to seven years in
prison.
Driving isn’t easy,
but saving a life is.
Slow down.
GayCityNews.com | April 22 - May 5, 2021 9
/GayCityNews.com
