Footage Could Lead To Second Suspect In Bias Attack

By: Taunia Hottman

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A 25-year-old man was charged Wednesday with second-degree murder as a hate crime in connection with the deadly beating of an Ecuadorean immigrant. NY1's Taunia Hottman filed the following report.

Police are continuing their search for 28-year-old Keith Phoenix, who is accused in the deadly December beating of an Ecuadorean immigrant.

Investigators believe it happened less than 20 minutes before he drove through the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge from Brooklyn.

Prosecutors say 25-year-old Hakim Scott was part of the attack on real estate broker Jose Sucuzhanay and his brother, yelling racial and anti-gay slurs before hitting him with a baseball bat.

"Even though we were born in Ecuador, we love so much this country. And he always told me he wanted to live in this country to do good," said Diego Sucuzhanay, Jose's brother.

At a news conference Thursday at the Ecuadorian consulate, the head of the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force explained how a nearly three month long investigation ended in the arrest of one of Sucuzhanay's accused killers. He said it all started with a taxi driver jotting down a license plate number on a napkin -- a number that eventually led to Hakim Scott.

"That was part of the complexity of the investigation. The victims didn't know the offenders, offenders lived up in the Bronx. If it wasn't for that police accident report, it would be very difficult to go connect anybody from the Bronx to that vehicle," said Michael Osgood, New York City Police Department.

Scott is behind bars, charged with second-degree murder as a hate crime. His lawyer says so far, he hasn't seen much evidence.

"What evidence is there? I've gotten more info from you guys in the press than I have from the DA's office. So on behalf of my client, and his family, see what evidence is available and I'll make a statement later on," said Defense Attorney Craig Newman.

The District Attorney handling the case calls the attack on Sucuzhanay extremely vicious. His brother says he is encouraged that those responsible will pay for what they did.

"It has brought some peace to my family. It won't bring my brother back, but we hope to see justice and I hope they get the highest punishment that the law allows," said Diego Sucuzhanay.

Hakeem Scott's arraignment was held over until March 3.

Anyone with information on Keith Phoenix is asked to contact Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-577-TIPS, by texting TIP577 to CRIMES, or by going to NYPDCrimeStoppers.com.