Suspect Sought For Vandalizing 3 NYC Churches In Apparent Hate Crime

QUEENS, NY — Police are searching for a suspect who allegedly vandalized three New York City churches in an apparent hate crime.

The three churches in Queens were all vandalized on Oct. 5. beginning at 1:40 a.m. and lasting about 20 minutes, police said.

The Refuge Church of Christ and the City of Oasis Church of Deliverance on Mott Avenue, as well as the St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church on New Haven Avenue, had anti-Christian messages written in spray paint on their facades.

Police released surveillance images of the suspect, who was seen carrying a rainbow flag and wearing a rainbow mask. He fled the scene on a CitiBike.

The suspect also defaced two church statues, according to police.

No arrests have been made yet. An investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/