Police: Man Beaten, Sexually Assaulted In Possible Socorro Hate Crime

Police said a 70-year-old man remained hospitalized in serious condition after being beaten and sexually assaulted in a suspected hate crime.

Police said the man was out for an early morning walk in Valle Del Sol Park when a van with four men drove up and asked for directions before trying to rob him.

When he told them he didn’t have any money, police said the attackers grabbed him, roughed him up, threw him into the van and sexually assaulted him.

Police said the men were only described as four black men.

Socorro spokesman David Garcia said residents are very concerned.

“This is a crime that people in Socorro don’t even really understand,” Garcia said. “I’ve gotten more calls from the community than the media asking what happened. Things like this just don’t happen in Socorro.”

Police said the victim suffered injuries that required surgery, but Garcia said the man is doing better.