Coronavirus: NY woman punched, robbed for wearing mask at Family Dollar store, police say

HILTON, N.Y. — Four New York teenagers are accused of punching and robbing a woman last week at a Family Dollar store because she was wearing a respirator mask, authorities said.

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Police arrested Rocco Gingello, 18, of Gates; Alexis Gingello, 19, of Gates; Taya O’Connor, 18, of Gates; and Nicholas Henderson, 19, of Greece, the Democrat and Chronicle reported.

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The four teens were charged with second-degree felony robbery; Henderson was also charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and several driving charges. The four were arraigned in Parma Town Court and released, WHAM-TV reported.

According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a robbery at a Family Dollar store in Hilton on March 23, the Democrat and Chronicle reported.

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A woman told authorities that a group of people confronted her because she “was wearing a respirator mask" inside the store.

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According to an arrest report, “The victim was being harassed by the group of people who were stating she was infected with the coronavirus.”

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The woman claimed that after she walked out of the store, she was punched in the face by several people, who then stole her wallet and ran away, WHAM reported. Witnesses said the suspects then got into a car and drove away, the television station reported.

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Deputies were able to find the car later with the help of the Ogden Police Department.

According to police, the victim suffered minor injuries, the Democrat and Chronicle reported.

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