Story by Ethan
On July 12th, 2024, charges against Jamshaid Choudhry, 44, were announced by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Jamshaid Choudhry was charged with second-degree Criminal Mischief as a hate crime, third-degree Criminal Mischief as a hate crime, fourth-degree Criminal Mischief as a hate crime, second-degree Criminal Mischief, third-degree Criminal Mischief, fourth-degree Criminal Mischief, and first-degree Aggravated Harassment.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz states, “We will not tolerate unprovoked attacks, especially those driven by hate. Queens stands as a beacon of diversity and inclusivity, where freedom of religion and expression are celebrated as fundamental pillars of our democracy. Thanks to my Hate Crimes Bureau and the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force, this individual has been apprehended.”
According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, at approximately 5:30 a.m., on June 30th, 2024, Jamshaid Choudhry was seen on surveillance footage parking a yellow cab across the street from a church. Jamshaid Choudhry ran up to a statue depicting Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and used one of his shoes to hit the statue, while spitting on it. While hitting the statue, the head broke off and caused an estimated $3,000 in damages. Jamshaid Choudhry was apprehended on the evening of July 11th, 2024.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Jamshaid Choudhry are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
