With a hammer in hand: A man chased a woman into a Jewish school in New York
The suspect tried to enter the building after the woman fled into it, but was stopped by a security guard. During the confrontation, an 8-year-old child was slightly injured. At this stage, it is not considered an antisemitic incident.
A 42-year-old man with a record of more than 50 arrests caused panic in the Queens neighborhood of New York after chasing a 19-year-old woman while holding a hammer, leading her to flee into a nearby Jewish school, according to a report in The New York Times.
According to law enforcement officials, the incident occurred on Tuesday morning in the Elmhurst area. The suspect made eye contact with the young woman on the street, began following her, and she entered a Jewish school to find shelter. The suspect tried to enter the building after her, but the school security guard stopped him.
During the confrontation between the security guard and the suspect, an 8-year-old child who was at the scene was accidentally injured. The child suffered a head injury after hitting a fence and was taken to the hospital with a cut, with his condition described as non-life-threatening.
The suspect was arrested at the scene and the hammer in his possession was seized. No charges have been filed against him yet, and the police are investigating the circumstances of the incident. Investigators are also examining the possibility that it was a hate crime, but according to sources familiar with the investigation, no statements or signs indicating an antisemitic motive have been found at this stage.
The community security organization "Queens Shmira" stated that, in their impression, this is not a hate crime, but rather an individual suffering from mental distress.
According to authorities, the suspect has a significant criminal record including 51 previous arrests in New York City, including an arrest in recent days on suspicion of theft from a luxury store. He was released without bail shortly before the incident.
A city council member representing the area praised the quick response of the security guards and police officers, and said he is praying for the well-being of the injured child and the young woman who was forced to seek shelter inside the school.
