Three Hassidic Jewish pedestrians were injured in a hit-and-run on July 21, although the police believe that the driver did not have any anti-Semitic intentions.
Footage of the incident shows that the three – a 64-year-old man, a 55-year-old man and a 6-year-old boy, all wearing traditional clothing of Hasidic Jews – were crossing the intersection when a Honda Odyssey backed up into the intersection and struck the three pedestrians before driving forward and away from the scene.
All three were taken to a local hospital. One of the victims reportedly suffered broken ribs, although it’s not clear which one suffered the injury. At least two of the victims have been released from the hospital.
Police have arrested the driver of the van, identified as 27-year-old Juan Paulino. He faces charges of leaving the scene of a crime, reckless endangerment and unsafe backing of a vehicle. He was previously arrested in 2007 for assault.
The New York Police Department Hate Crime Task Force examined the incident but concluded that it was not a hate crime because Paulino was looking for a parking spot and didn’t see the three Jews at the intersection. They also concluded that it would have been difficult for Paulino to determine that the three people crossing the intersection were Jews.
However, some aren’t convinced:
There was a very suspicious hit and run yesterday injuring three Jews in Brooklyn. This looks like an intentional attack. Check out the video. https://t.co/O23FDTNkq2
— Adam Holland (@ad_holland) July 23, 2018
