NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — The NYPD launched a hate crime investigation over the decapitation of a child Jesus statue at a Queens church on Sunday, that's been part of the parish for more than 42 years, according to the Brooklyn Diocese.
The incident happened at 5:30 a.m. at the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church in Flushing, according to the Brooklyn Diocese.
Video 2 - Holy Family Vandalism from Diocese of Brooklyn Press Office on Vimeo.
Video released by the Diocese shows a vandal park his NYC Taxi SUV vehicle across the street from the church. He then walked directly towards the Holy Family statue and proceeded to decapitate the Child Jesus. The white marble head of the Child Jesus was found on the ground near the statue.
The damage is estimated at $20,000.
"The statues of Mary and Joseph, which stand with the Child Jesus, were unsuccessfully targeted and not damaged," the Diocese said.
"The Holy Family is the foundation of our faith community, and this statue holds special meaning to so many in our parish. This is a very unsettling incident, and those who attended Mass yesterday were shocked and horrified to find out this happened. We must pray for an increase in religious tolerance throughout our city," said Father Sean Suckiel, the parish Pastor.
Suckiel told 1010 WINS that this wasn't the first time the church was vandalized—it was hit last year by kids taking video of themselves defacing statues.
"My parishioners are very, very upset," Suckiel said. "It was a complete attack. And the question is why? This statue was not in the gentleman's way, in fact it was completely out of his way. And that he had to do this. That's the second time this has happened to us, and so we're frustrated. We're upset."
Suckiel said the statue was a popular place for taking pictures of special occasions, such as first communes, confirmations, baptisms, weddings, graduations.
"Now people have to look at this and say, 'This is heartbreaking,'" he said. "It's more than just repairing, it's also about saying this statue's been here for 42 years. And so, it's not just about the cost, it's also about the memories and people seeing this. And it's heartbreaking."
As for the suspect, Suckiel said a motive is unclear; the assailant got out of a taxi and clearly went after the statue.
"We do believe in forgiveness, and we want to forgive this deranged man for whatever reason he did this," Suckiel said. "If he was not in the right state of mind, we forgive him, but we also want justice served as well. And to create that awareness that we can't allow this stuff to continue to happen."
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
