NYPD Releases Name of Man Accused in Dallas BBQ Attack, Say He's Fled State

Two weeks after the alleged homophobic attack at Dallas BBQ, in which Jonathan Snipes and his boyfriend Ethan York-Adams were hit over the head with a chair by another patron, the police have released the attacker's name: Banya El-Amin.

A reporter for WCBS broke the news on Twitter:

Suspect in Chelsea Dallas BBQ attack on 2 gay men ID'd as Bayna El-Amin. @NYPDDetectives says he's a career criminal.

— Alex Silverman (@AlexSilverman) May 19, 2015

El-Amin has 18 prior arrests on record since 1993 in Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, and New York, reports DNAinfo. He's been arrested for assault, drug possession, and credit card fraud, among other things.

Shortly after the Cinco de Mayo incident, there was speculation that Snipes instigated the attack by spilling a drink on El-Amin and hitting him first. There were also accusations that the fight was fueled by racial tension and not homophobia, with one site, G-List, saying that El-Amin is gay. There has been no follow up from G-List.

The NYPD believe that El-Amin has fled the state and are asking people who know of his whereabouts to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS, or submit a tip anonymously online.