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 The gay man who was brutally beaten and then hit by a car near a popular New York gay cruise spot died Friday after his family removed him from life support. The victim, 29-year-old Michael Sandy, lay in Brookdale University Hospital in a coma since Sunday, when his attackers left him for dead on Brooklyn’s Belt Parkway, Sunday.
According to Newsday, Sandy's family decided to remove him from the respirator after observing his birthday Thursday at the hospital. The suspects allegedly met Sandy in an Internet chat room for gay men and lured him to the cruise spot Plumb Beach on the pretense of having sex, reports New York Daily News. Brooklyn district attorneys told Newsday that they may add to the charges facing three men who have been held in connection with the attack. John Fox, 19, Gary Timmins, 16, and Ilye Shurov, 20, have been charged with assault and attempted robbery, both during the commission of a hate crime. They have been arraigned and are being held at Rikers Island without bail. Another suspect, Anthony Fortunato, 20, was questioned and released earlier this week. The Daily News reports that according to criminal complaints released yesterday, the suspects, all from Sheepshead Bay, jumped Sandy when he arrived at Plumb Beach. "While there, Shurov dragged Mr. Sandy out of his car, punched Mr. Sandy, and Mr. Sandy then ran onto the Belt Parkway" and was struck by a car, according to the Daily News, quoting from the complaints. "After Sandy had been struck…and was laying on the ground, informants observed Shurov go through his pockets." - Troy Espara
 OutDistrict has no other words for this. Our bruised hearts go out to Michael's family and loved ones. We will post full details of this story later. At this time, we would like to tell all of our LGBT Community that this horrible hate crime, like that of Matthew Shepard WILL NOT PUT US BACK INTO ANY CLOSET. We are here, we are OUT, and there is strength and support in numbers.To our Hetero friends: Get informed. Stay informed. Michael Sandy did not CHOOSE to be chased onto a highway by hateful boys. Michael Sandy did not CHOOSE to be tortured, no more than he CHOSE to die. Michael did not CHOOSE to have his human rights violated. None of these choices were anymore owned by him, than us to be gay; this is who we are. Think about that. Absorb it and give an LGBT loved one a hug or word of assurance and acceptance today. This incident, so close to [our] home, is upsetting for many. With all of our deepest and sincerest sympathies for our fallen brother, - The OutDistrict Family
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