NEW HAVEN, Conn. — After a night out with friends, Franklin Cruz-Rosa became the victim of a violent attack. He said he was walking home in the area of York Street near Yale University's Davenport College just after midnight on Sept. 3 when the incident happened.
"We just bumped into these group of kids and you know most of the sidewalk is kind of filled and so it's kind of like unavoidable and so we bumped into them on accident and so they started getting aggressive and violent and started to yell racial slurs," Cruz-Rosa said.
He said he remembered two people hitting him after he confronted the group for using the racial slurs. It sent him to the hospital with a broken jaw and an injury to his head.
"The inflammation has come down and everything, you know. I was very puffed up and the scar on the side here is healing too," he said.
He is recovering and is in good spirits.
New Haven and Yale police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime and are now asking for the public's help. Police released photos Friday of people they would like to identify and speak to about the incident.
Unidentified individuals from possible New Haven hate crime
“We know that someone out there will recognize these individuals. We would like to speak with them, we want to hear their side as to what they saw, their involvement and any additional information that they may have,” said Yale Police Chief Anthony Campbell. “We believe that we can bring true justice and solve this incident.”
It is unclear at this point whether they are witnesses or involved in the incident.
Cruz-Rosa is also asking anyone with information about what happened to him to come forward.
"Hopefully people can recognize that and just bring some sort of justice," he said.
A GoFundMe page for Cruz-Rosa raised almost $15,000 for his medical bills. He said he is very grateful for the support.
Anyone with information is asked to contact New Haven Police Detective Cordero at 475-331-3111.
Gaby Molina is a reporter and anchor at FOX61 News. She can be reached at mmolina@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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