A Staten Island woman has been indicted in connection to a series of anti-Muslim attacks in Bay Ridge.
Photo courtesy of Michael Förtsch/Unsplash
A Staten Island woman has been indicted in connection with a series of anti-Muslim hate crime assaults in Bay Ridge that targeted three people, including a 12-year-old girl, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.
DA Eric Gonzalez announced that 34-year-old Megan Horney was arraigned in Brooklyn Supreme Court on charges including assault as a hate crime and related offenses stemming from what prosecutors described as a string of unprovoked attacks against Muslim residents.
“This defendant is accused of targeting three people, including a child, in a string of unprovoked assaults allegedly fueled by anti-Muslim bias,” Gonzalez said. “No one should be attacked, threatened, or made to fear for their safety because of their faith. We will seek to hold this defendant accountable and will continue working to protect all Brooklyn residents from hate and violence.”
Horne, a resident of Staten Island, faces multiple charges, including third-degree assault as a hate crime, third-degree assault, third-degree attempted assault as a hate crime, third-degree attempted assault, third-degree menacing as a hate crime, third-degree menacing, second-degree aggravated harassment and endangering the welfare of a child. She was ordered to return on May 27 and remains on supervised release.
According to the original investigation, the incidents unfolded within 20 minutes of each other on the afternoon of Jan. 30.
At approximately 2:25 p.m., one woman was “pushed and kicked by an unknown female” in front of 8902 Fifth Ave. Police said the suspect made Islamophobic remarks during the attack.
Minutes later, at approximately 2:33 p.m., a 39-year-old woman was “pushed from behind by the same individual while attempting to board a B53 bus on 92nd street.”
A third incident occurred at 2:36 p.m., when a 12-year-old girl said she was “approached and struck in the face by the same individual near Fort Hamilton Parkway and 92nd Street,” police said.
Prosecutors said all three victims were wearing “religious attire” at the time of the attacks, and all three refused medical treatment. No arrests were made at the time, and police said Horne fled each scene.
The indictment follows Horne’s arrest in early February after an NYPD investigation into the attacks, which drew widespread condemnation from local and state officials and heightened concern in Bay Ridge’s Muslim community.
In a Feb. 5 statement, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) “welcomed” Horne’s arrest.
“While we welcome the arrest of the suspect as an important step toward accountability, these disturbing attacks are part of a broader and alarming rise in anti-Muslim hate that is leaving our communities fearful and vulnerable,” CAIR-NY executive director Afaf Nasher, Esq., said. “A child being targeted makes this violence especially egregious and underscores the urgent need for stronger protections against bias-motivated crimes.”
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Sharmalee Brooks-Gordon of the Hate Crimes Bureau, under the supervision of bureau chief Kelli M. Muse.
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.