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'I am going to kill you': Third suspect arrested for alleged hate crime, grandmother says she was attacked for being a white Trump supporter
New York City Police Department

'I am going to kill you': Third suspect arrested for alleged hate crime, grandmother says she was attacked for being a white Trump supporter

A New York City teenager accused of attacking a 57-year-old grandmother on a bus was arrested on Tuesday. The suspect allegedly committed a hate crime and threatened to murder the victim.

Jahnaiya Williams, 19, was arrested in Coney Island and charged with assault in the second and third degree as a hate crime, assault in the second and third degree, menacing in the third degree as a hate crime, aggravated harassment in the second degree, and menacing, Fox News reported.

Williams was one of three suspects who allegedly ganged up on the victim on July 9. The other two suspects, ages 15 and 16, were both arrested on July 26, but were not named because they are minors. The underage suspects also face assault and aggravated harassment charges classified as hate crimes.

The alleged hate crime attack took place on an MTA bus driving in the Woodhaven neighborhood of the borough of Queens.

Citing surveillance camera footage, Queens district attorney Melinda Katz said the three suspects sat near the rear of the bus and approached the victim.

"The defendant allegedly looked directly at victim saying, 'I hate white people.' She also stated that she hates white people’s skin," the press release from the district attorney read.

Williams allegedly threatened the victim, "I am going to kill you."

As the bus drove past the St. John’s Cemetery, Williams purportedly told the victim, "This is where I’m going to bury you."

The victim – identified as Jill LeCroix – told the New York Post that one of her attackers "had a bag from Bath and Body Works." The LeCroix added, "She took out a scrub and said she was going to beat me with it."

LeCroix said one of the females threatened her, "You're going to get what you deserve! All white people are going to get what they deserve."

The victim claimed, "Before they hit me, the girl with the green hair said, 'You probably like Trump! Don’t you?'"

LeCroix replied, "I love him."

Williams and one of the minors spit on the woman.

Williams then repeatedly smashed LeCroix in the head with a shopping bag that contained a jar, according to the district attorney. At least one of the minors allegedly punched LeCroix in the head several times.

The trio then fled the bus.

The victim was taken to a local hospital for a deep gash on the right side of her head.

LeCroix told the Post that she has three biracial children and is a grandmother of five.

District attorney Katz said, "As alleged, the defendant, as well as two other apprehended individuals, carried out an unprovoked assault on a public transit rider simply because of the victim’s race. I am committed to holding accountable those who perpetuate bias-motivated attacks on the residents of the most diverse county in the world. The defendant is now charged with assault as a hate crime and will be held to account for her alleged actions."

As of July 28, there have been 338 hate crime incidents this year that resulted in 360 arrests, according to the NYPD. There were a total of 528 hate crime incidents in 2021 and 266 incidents in 2020.

This year, the most targeted victims of hate crimes in New York City are Jewish people, Asians, and homosexual males, according to the NYPD Hate Crime Dashboard.

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