Damian Furtch's Attackers Caught on Video, Not Yet Captured

Cops have released this video of Damian Furtch being attacked Sunday at a West Village McDonald's. The beating, likely a gay-bashing, quickly made its way overseas, complete with big, ugly photos. His crime, apparently, was to wear a fluorescent hat and pink shoelaces around sexually insecure punks.

NY1's narrative:

Damian Furtch tells NY1 he and a friend were at the McDonald's at West 3rd Street and Sixth Avenue around 4:30 a.m Sunday when two guys started staring at him because he was wearing a fluorescent hat and pink shoelaces.

He says he went outside while his friend got their order, and the two men followed him.

Furtch says they asked if he had a problem with them, and then started hitting him and yelling gay slurs.

"One of the guys hit me in the face, my right side, the worst side with the stitches. I was sort of jumbled from that and seconds later I felt a second hit on my left side and then a third punch towards the top of my head," said Furtch. "They were saying, ya know, you f'ing f----t, and things like that."

Furtch says he then stumbled away and made it to Roosevelt Hospital where he received several stitches.

"It's an awkward feeling, you want to feel like you can walk outside and choose to wear whatever you want, choose to be whoever you are. I hate to say it, but apparently it's not safe," Furtch said.

Furtch's boss at the nearby Pink Tea Cup calls the tall Furtch a "gentle giant."

The punks who attacked him are believed to be 18 to 20 years old. Tipsters can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or submit tips at nypdcrimestoppers.com or text info to 274637 (CRIMES), entering TIP577.