Teen Booted from Stonewall Returns to Smash Historic Window

A Coney Island teenager who was booted from New York City's Stonewall Inn Friday night returned hours later after closing with a baseball bat and beat holes into the window, damaging the neon sign of the landmark LGBT site to the tune of nearly $7,000, according to the New York Daily News.

The teen, William Gomez, 19, who had been at the bar with coworkers, was arrested early Saturday on charges of criminal mischief and reckless endangerment and arraigned that evening. He was not charged with a hate crime, as his attack on the famed establishment did not appear to be motivated by animus toward LGBT people.

Gomez's mother, who told the Daily News that her son is not gay and that his girlfriend is currently pregnant, said he called from lock-up alleging that he'd gotten into a scuffle with the bouncer of the Stonewall Inn.

"He said that a bodyguard was messing with one of his coworkers and he told him to stop," said Gomez's mother, who would not give her name. "He then thought the conversation was over but at one point he was punched in the face."

But the arrest was far from Gomez's first. He's previously been arrested on charges of assault, criminal impersonation, and robbery, according to the Daily News.

However, his mother said, "He's a quiet boy. He doesn't get into trouble."

The Stonewall Inn repaired the damage and was open and running by Saturday afternoon.