Second Suspect Arrested for José Sucuzhañay Murder

New York’s WCBS is reporting that the second suspect in December beating death of José Sucuzhañay has been arrested. The first suspect, Hakeem Scott, was arrested on Wednesday and made a full confession, though he pleaded not guilty to second degree murder on Thursday.

José Sucuzhañay was murdered in December by two men who shouted anti-gay and anti-Hispanic slurs at them while beating him with a beer bottle and an aluminum baseball bat. It is believed that the newly arrested Keith Phoenix was the one wielding the bat.

28-year-old Keith Phoenix was wanted in the Dec. 7 beating of Ecuadorian immigrant José Sucuzhañay on a Brooklyn street.

Phoenix’s alleged accomplice, 25-year-old Hakeem Scott, also of The Bronx, had been charged with second-degree murder as a hate crime and held without bail since his arrest earlier in the week.

The NYPD on Thursday released a shocking surveillance video taken shortly after the bias attack in Brooklyn.

Phoenix and Scott were seen smiling as they headed home to the Bronx moments after the beating.

Investigators said the footage shows the two riding in their SUV just 19 minutes after the attack that ultimately ended the life of Sucuzhañay back in December.

“We know that these arrests will not bring our brother back,” Diego Sucuzhañay said. “But at least we have hope that justice is on its way.”

Police said Phoenix lives in the same South Bronx neighborhood as Scott, who was picked up Tuesday near where they live on 161st Street. Scott was arrested and charged with murder as a hate crime. On Thursday the Sucuzhañay family expressed gratitude for the police work.

Go to WCBS’s story to see the surveillance video released this week as well as comments from brother Diego Sucuzhañay.