Woman charged with hate crimes after pepper spraying Muslim Uber driver
In a statement on Monday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg condemned the attack as a senseless act of hate.
A woman in New York, USA, has been charged with hate crime after she allegedly pepper-sprayed her Muslim Uber driver at a red light as he prayed.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. announced Thursday that Jennifer Guilbeault, 23, has been charged with pepper spraying a 45-year-old Uber driver in an anti-Muslim attack on the Upper East Side in July 2024.
More To Read
Guilbeault faces charges in the New York State Supreme Court, including one count each of second-degree assault as a hate crime, third-degree assault as a hate crime, and second-degree aggravated harassment.
The attack took place in the early hours of July 31, while the 45-year-old driver was completing a ride for Guilbeault and another passenger. According to prosecutors, as the driver paused at a red light, he began to pray in Arabic. Guilbeault then allegedly lunged forward from the back seat, deploying pepper spray directly into his face.
The incident left the driver with painful burning and redness, prompting him to call 911 shortly afterwards.
Despite Guilbeault's denial of racial motivation for the attack during her August arraignment, prosecutors have moved forward with hate crime charges because of the driver's Muslim identity and the severity of the assault.
In a statement on Monday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg condemned the attack as a senseless act of hate.
“The victim is a hard-working New Yorker who should not have to face this type of hate because of his identity,” Bragg stated. “Everyone is welcome to live and work in Manhattan.”
Top Stories Today
- Counties cry foul over Sh405bn budget, demand Sh536bn to avert crisis
- High interest rates, poor weather hold back Kenya’s economic progress
- Over 66,000 textile jobs at risk as AGOA trade deal nears expiry
- UHC medics reject Duale’s directive on payroll transfer to counties
- Those behind dad’s killing must be unmasked, MP Were’s son vows
- People trusted by MP Were helped plan his murder - Murkomen
- Court halts auction of Tuju’s properties over Sh4.5bn loan dispute
- City lawyer linked to Sh1.5bn bank heist released on Sh30m bond
- Revealed: Insider deals and offshore links driving up Kenya’s energy costs
- Four filmmakers linked to BBC documentary released on Sh10,000 bail
- EACC detectives arrest three senior NYS officials, proxies in Sh2bn graft probe
- 2024 records highest cases of extrajudicial killings in last six years - report
- US offers Sh1.29bn bounty for terror suspect linked to Manda Bay attack
- Half of Kenyans unsure about credibility of 2027 polls - TIFA
- Kenyans back Amadi for IEBC Chair but lack faith selection panel - poll
- Delays in job placements abroad due to logistics, not fraud - CS Mutua
- Three charged with murder of 17-year-old Gaala Adan in Wajir
- Two Belgians jailed for smuggling over 5,000 live queen ants
- Earth tremor reported in Nairobi and surrounding areas
- Vatican conclave to pick new pope, world awaits white smoke
