Overview
- The Manhattan district attorney announced on Tuesday that Raul Morales was indicted on multiple counts, including attempted murder and assault as hate crimes, and he pleaded not guilty at arraignment.
- Prosecutors say evidence recovered in the investigation includes antisemitic text messages from Morales’ phone, witness statements that he shouted religiously charged phrases during the attacks, and weapons recovered from the scenes.
- Police say the July 23 attacks began when Morales allegedly stabbed a 57‑year‑old Asian man in the back and, about 12 minutes later, stabbed a 50‑year‑old Jewish man in the chest; both victims were hospitalized and one required surgery to remove a knife.
- Officers tracked Morales to his apartment the same afternoon, where he initially refused to come out, later surrendered after changing clothes, and was taken into custody; the DA’s office is pursuing hate‑crime enhancements that raise potential penalties if bias is proven.
- Local leaders condemned the attacks and state officials announced $70 million to protect community groups before the Jewish High Holidays, a move that highlights growing city and state emphasis on investigating and funding responses to bias‑motivated violence.