A driver who allegedly shot a father and son with a BB gun outside a kosher supermarket on Staten Island over the weekend has been arrested, police said Tuesday.
Police took the suspect into custody following an investigation by the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force and officers from the 121st Precinct, the NYPD tweeted Tuesday morning.
The department didn’t immediately release the suspect’s name or age.
The NYPD said the visibly Jewish father and son were shot by a BB gun outside the Island Kosher supermarket.
The pair are seen on video wearing yarmulkes at the time they were struck in the drive-by attack. The 7-year-old boy is also seen reacting after being grazed on the ear.
The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is looking for two suspects, including the driver of a black Ford Mustang with a covered license plate, who drove off on Victory Boulevard.
This comes as hate crimes are up citywide. New numbers from the police show antisemitic hate crimes more than doubled in November compared to the same time last year.
Staten Island Shomrim said the Jewish community is very disturbed, telling CBS2 the little boy is traumatized. However, both he and his father are physically doing okay.
This black Mustang is wanted in regards to an assault with a BB gun on Victory Blvd, @NYPD121pct & @NYPDHateCrimes is investigating. pic.twitter.com/Or0BpCcHgu
— Staten Island Shomrim safety Patrol (@SISPShomrim) December 5, 2022
Hate Crime Task Force is fully aware of this incident and is actively investigating. Please follow this account for updated images and information. As of now the vehicle appears to be a late model Ford Mustang a covered, rear license plate. https://t.co/mNRZToUPtF pic.twitter.com/8VgXztfvMu
— NYPD Hate Crimes (@NYPDHateCrimes) December 5, 2022
glad to know the police did fine work in apprehending the perp. Hope the rest of the system creates accountability to the perp…
not that it’s meaningful much here, but i think a crime committed against another person (or person’s property should have built in fines to be paid to the victim. so in addition to prison or community service or whatever the judge and district attorney decide is to be the punishment for, say, shooting at someone with a bb gun, there should be requirement for perp to pay the victims $xx