NYPD Investigates Vandalism at Long Island City Church

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is investigating an act of vandalism at St. Rita Roman Catholic Church in Long Island City. A statue of the Virgin Mary was damaged when a man climbed a fence and used a hammer to repeatedly smash it. This incident is being looked into as a possible hate crime.

Surveillance footage released by The Diocese of Brooklyn captures the masked individual attacking the statue. Catholic officials report this as the latest in a series of attacks on the parish.

According to a press release from the church, this is the fourth instance of vandalism targeting the parish since 2024. The NYPD is considering the event as a potential hate crime.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:42 a.m. on August 1. Footage reveals the suspect wearing a dark T-shirt and shorts. He climbs over the fence into the church courtyard, removes a hammer from his pocket, and repeatedly strikes the statue. After knocking it from its stand, he exits the courtyard.

Previous vandalism acts at the parish include the destruction of a 60-year-old stained-glass window and graffiti on a statue of St. Francis of Assisi. Additionally, damage has occurred to a statue of St. Jude inside the church.

The Diocese of Brooklyn reported that no arrests had been made regarding the incident. John Quaglione, Deputy Press Secretary for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, noted that hate crimes in New York City have increased by 9.4% compared to the same period last year.