A retired train conductor pummeled into a coma in Union Square by a black man who witnesses said was looking to ta♛rget a white victim died Monday after being taken off life support, police sour𒊎ces said.
Jeffrey Babbitt, 62 — who lived with his 93-year-old mother in Brooklyn’s Sheepshead Bay ꧂— was brutally sucker-punched by a hate-spewing Lashawn Marten last Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.
Just before the unprovoked attack, Marten, 31, was overheard saying he was going to “f–k up’’ the next white person he saw, officials said.
He was apparently angry after watching people playing chess nearby and not being as💯ked to join in, radio station 1010 WINS reported.
Babbitt, who was white, fell to the ground hard, and💜 witnesses reported hearing his skull crack against 𒆙the pavement.
He was treated at the scene and was even pictured standing on his ow💦n be꧟fore slipping into a coma.
He died at Bellevue Hospital.
Marten, who may be homeless, also ꦜallegedly punched two people who rushed to Babbitt’s aid.
He was arrested at the scene.
Police Commissio🌺ner Ray Kelly said the assault w🐠as being investigated as a hate crime.
Marten is being held on $1 million bond for felo𝓰ny aggravated assault. With Ba🐟bbitt’s death, the charges against him could be upgraded to murder, sources said.
Babbitt’s neighbors said the gentle victim had been a train conductor when he lived 🍒in Florida and was always 🐟willing to lend a helping hand after he retired.
Esther Yosevitz, 80, recalled ♔how Babbitt once drove her to her cataract surgery, then waited for her and escorted her home.
“His mother is an excellent, fine person, and she has no one left now,’’ Yosevi💮tz said.
Neighbor Audrey Feifer, 75, called Babbi𝕴tt a person with “a very good heart.
“It’s a horrible thing that a person can’t walk down the street𒀰 and be safe,” she said.
The attack occurred two days be🥃fore a white Manhattan bus passenger was pummeled by a black ma𝓰n who called him a “cracker,” authorities said.