Full Breakdown
Federal Hate-Crime Charges Follow Attack on Manhattan’s Central Synagogue
8/19/2026, 8:44:02 AM
Violent Disruption at Central Synagogue (August 14)
On the evening of August 14, 2026, during Shabbat services at Central Synagogue on Manhattan’s Lexington Avenue, 46-year-old Larry Montes of the Bronx rose from his seat, shouted “I am Hashem,” and advanced toward the bimah. He knocked over two silver candlesticks with gold accents, punched 63-year-old congregant Michele Anaberg-Poma, cutting her lip and bruising her forearm, and head-butted a 65-year-old Black security guard while spitting and using a racial slur. The assault, captured on the synagogue’s live-stream, ended when an NYPD sergeant on a paid detail intervened and placed Montes in custody.
Legal Actions and Charges
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York filed a federal complaint charging Montes with two hate-crime counts and one count of damage to religious property resulting in bodily injury. He remains in state custody on $10,000 bail and will be transferred to Manhattan federal court for arraignment. A Manhattan grand jury has also returned state-level hate-crime assault and criminal-misdemeanor charges.
Official Statements & Responses
- Jessica Tisch, New York City police commissioner, described the incident as “deeply painful” and said a place of worship should never be a crime scene.
- Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) said all New Yorkers must be able to worship freely without fear.
- Jamie McDonald, Manhattan U.S. attorney, called the attack “an attack on the fundamental right to practice one’s faith safely.”
Data & Statistics
- NYPD data show 205 confirmed antisemitic hate crimes in New York City through July 2026, 16 more than the same period in 2025. Antisemitic incidents account for nearly two-thirds of the 360 hate crimes investigated citywide this year.
- The two damaged candlesticks were each valued at $10,000, according to court documents.
- Montes has three prior robbery arrests (2019, 2023, 2024) and two misdemeanor theft convictions.
Verbatim Quotes
- “A place of worship should never be a crime scene.” — Jessica Tisch
- “We will use every tool at our disposal to confront antisemitism and keep Jewish New Yorkers — and all New Yorkers — safe.” — The Simon Wiesenthal Center
- “All New Yorkers and all Americans must be able to worship freely with no fear of danger for themselves or their families,” — Sen. Charles Schumer
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Value of damaged items: Some filings list each candlestick at $10,000; others cite a total of $20,000.
- Potential penalties: One outlet notes a maximum federal sentence of 20 years per count; another mentions a possible 40-year state term. The complaint does not specify a sentencing range.
- Future proceedings: It is unclear when Montes will appear before a federal magistrate and whether state charges will proceed after the federal arraignment.
