A 23-year-old woman from New York, Jennifer Guilbeault, has been indicted on multiple hate crime charges after allegedly pepper-spraying a 45-year-old Muslim Uber driver while he was praying in Arabic. The incident took place on July 31 on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, near Central Park.
According to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Guilbeault lunged forward toward the driver’s seat and sprayed his face with pepper spray, causing pain and burning sensations. The victim, identified as Mahmud, immediately called 911 following the attack, leading to Guilbeault's arrest.
Guilbeault has been formally charged by the state Supreme Court and is scheduled to appear in court in January. Her attorney has not yet provided a comment on the matter.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg condemned the assault, stating that the victim, a hardworking New Yorker, should not have to endure such hate-based violence. Bragg emphasized Manhattan's commitment to inclusivity and the efforts of the Hate Crimes Unit to combat bias-motivated incidents.
The charges against Guilbeault include Assault in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime, Assault in the Third Degree as a Hate Crime, and Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree. The NYPD has been contacted for further information on the case.
