A 22-year-old man has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including attempted murder and assault, in connection with a stabbing incident near a Brooklyn synagogue. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday on Kingston Avenue in Crown Heights, close to the Chabad-Lubavitch movement headquarters on Eastern Parkway.
According to police reports, a 33-year-old man was attacked and slashed in the torso following a verbal altercation with the suspect, who allegedly shouted 'Free Palestine' before carrying out the assault. The victim was promptly taken to Kings County Hospital and is currently in stable condition.
The suspect, identified as 22-year-old Vincent Sumpter, has been charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, menacing, aggravated harassment based on race or religion, and hate crimes. Sumpter pleaded not guilty to all charges and is being held on a $100,000 bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday.
Witnesses reported that the suspect also threatened the victim with death before the stabbing took place. Community members intervened, apprehended the suspect, and held him until law enforcement arrived to make the arrest. Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, a spokesperson for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, confirmed the incident and expressed concern over the rise of antisemitism and hate speech in the community.
Rabbi Behrman visited the victim, a long-standing member of the Jewish community, in the hospital and reported that the victim is recovering well and is expected to be discharged within the next 24 to 48 hours. He emphasized the need to address and combat hateful rhetoric and incitement that can lead to such violent acts.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of spreading hate and intolerance. Rabbi Behrman urged for a united effort to counter antisemitism and promote understanding and respect among all communities to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
