Steven Torres, 22, was initially charged with a hate crime on Monday after he claimed he
stabbed 69-year-old Ever Orozco to death because he was blowing kisses at him (Orozco had just dropped his wife off at the doctor). On Wednesday, Torres was charged with second-degree murder, but the hate crime charge was dropped. Sources
tell the
Daily News that detectives doubt homophobia was his motive, since Torres said he also stabbed a co-worker last week for blowing kisses. Torres has been charged with assault as a hate crime and weapons possession charges for the previous stabbing, and faces 25 years to life for the murder of
Orozco.