Police Investigate Hammer Attack on Virgin Mary Statue at Long Island City Church as Hate Crime

The New York Police Department is investigating a destructive attack on a religious statue outside St. Rita Roman Catholic Church in Long Island City as a potential hate crime. Surveillance footage captured an unidentified suspect scaling a fence at approximately 1:42 a.m. on August 1 before using a hammer to demolish a statue of the Virgin Mary in the church courtyard.

The Diocese of Brooklyn released security video showing the masked assailant, dressed in dark clothing, strike the statue repeatedly until it fell from its pedestal. The suspect then fled the scene by climbing back over the fence and leaving the property. No arrests have been made as of the Diocese’s latest statement to media outlets.

Church officials characterized the incident as the fourth vandalism attack targeting the parish since 2024. Previous incidents include destruction of a 60-year-old stained-glass window, defacement of a St. Francis of Assisi statue, graffiti on nearby sidewalks, and damage to a statue of St. Jude within the church building itself.

The attack comes amid a broader surge in hate crimes citywide. According to the Diocese’s deputy press secretary John Quaglione, the NYPD reported a 9.4 percent increase in hate crimes during the first seven months of the year compared to the same period in 2023.