NEW YORK, NY – A man who threw a rock at the front door of Grace Lutheran Church in Queens has been arrested. Police identified Jaun Velez, 29, of Manhattan as the suspect. He was arrested Sunday afternoon and charged with criminal mischief, hate crime, and intent to damage property
A man who hurled an object at a church in Queens on Sunday is being sought by police. While the Eagles and 49ers were hurling footballs in the NFC championship game, at around 3:56 pm, this suspect was hurling objects at the front door of the Grace Lutheran Church on Union Turnpike.
A video released by the NYPD shows the man throwing a rock at the front door before walking up the steps to get closer to the door, then fleeing.
Police have classified the incident as a hate crime.