Man Stabs Another Near Brooklyn Synagogue

A 22-year-old man, Vincent Sumpter, has been charged with second-degree assault as a hate crime after allegedly stabbing another man near a synagogue in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood. The incident occurred early Saturday morning, around 2 a.m., when Sumpter reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” and threatened the victim, identified as Yechiel Michel Dabrowskin, with the words “Do you want to die?” before the attack. The confrontation took place on Kingston Avenue, close to the headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, a spokesperson for the movement, expressed concern over the escalating rhetoric surrounding such incidents, warning that it could lead to more violence if not addressed. Surveillance footage captured a brief exchange between Sumpter and a group of young men before the stabbing occurred. This incident is part of a troubling trend, as earlier this month, two individuals faced hate crime charges for vandalizing the homes of Jewish leaders in Brooklyn. Additionally, in May, another man was charged after making antisemitic remarks and attempting to run over pedestrians outside an Orthodox Jewish school in East Flatbush. The rise in such incidents has raised alarms within the community, highlighting the urgent need for dialogue and intervention to prevent further violence. Sumpter has not yet been arraigned, and the investigation continues as authorities work to address the underlying issues contributing to these hate-driven acts.