The New York Police Department (NYPD) is currently investigating the destruction of a Virgin Mary statue outside St. Rita Roman Catholic Church in Long Island City. This incident is being examined as a potential hate crime. Surveillance footage captured a man climbing over a fence and smashing the statue with a hammer.
The Diocese of Brooklyn released the video showing the masked assailant repeatedly targeting the statue. Church representatives note that this vandalism is part of a broader pattern of attacks on their parish.
The latest incident took place at around 1:42 a.m. on August 1. It marks the fourth reported vandalism at St. Rita’s since 2024. The NYPD is investigating this act of violence as part of their hate crime unit’s ongoing efforts.
Church officials point out past incidents, including the damage to a 60-year-old stained-glass window and graffiti that marred a statue of St. Francis of Assisi. Additionally, a statue of St. Jude inside the church suffered damage.
John Quaglione, Deputy Press Secretary for the Diocese, highlighted the rise in hate crimes. According to him, there’s been a 9.4% increase in such crimes compared to the same timeframe last year, from January to July.
Emma Bussey, a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital, has provided these details. Previously, she worked with The Telegraph, covering a range of topics from politics to culture.