Man slaps—and smashes—Queens church statue in possible hate crime: police

Police are searching for the suspect, who was last seen leaving the area on a bicycle after the vandalism on April 6
Police are searching for the suspect, who was last seen leaving the area on a bicycle after the vandalism on April 6. Photo credit NYPD

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Police are searching for a man who allegedly slapped a religious statue to the ground at a Queens church, breaking the figure in a possible hate crime.

The NYPD released images Tuesday of the suspect wanted for the vandalism inside an Astoria church on Sunday afternoon.

The man walked into Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church at 29th Street and Ditmars Boulevard around 1 p.m. and slapped the statue, police said.

A statue was smacked to the ground and broken at the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in Astoria
A statue was smacked to the ground and broken at the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in Astoria. Photo credit Google Street View

The statue fell to the ground and broke, according to cops.

The suspect was last seen leaving the area on a bicycle.

The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is investigating the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

Featured Image Photo Credit: NYPD