Overview
- Police released surveillance images of a person seen with a rainbow Pride flag and a bicycle who defaced houses of worship in Far Rockaway, Queens.
- The spree began around 1:40 a.m. on Oct. 5 and hit three churches within roughly 20 minutes, according to the NYPD.
- Targets included Refuge Church of Christ and City of Oasis Church of Deliverance on Mott Avenue, and St. Mary’s Star of the Sea on New Haven Avenue.
- Graffiti included phrases reported as “Anti-gay cult,” “Welcome cult members,” and “Cult,” and the suspect blackened the faces of two religious statues at St. Mary’s.
- The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating and asks anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or via @NYPDTips.