Police looking for suspect in possible hate crime at Chabad Jewish Center

Reporter: Gail Levy Writer: Matthew Seaver
Published: Updated:
Chabad Jewish Center damage. (Credit: WINK News)

A rabbi is stepping up security after a man threw bricks at the Chabad Jewish Center in Cape Coral and smashed a car in the parking lot. A member who was inside at the time said it sounded like gunshots. The guy who did it is still on the run.

The suspect is described as a man in his 50s, six feet tall, and roughly 200 pounds. He is described as having glasses and is nearly bald. Witnesses say they would recognize him if they saw him again. One was even able to snap a photo of the suspect’s car, an older model Ford Edge.

“I was just standing over here. What is it? 10 feet? 10 feet from the door?” said Chabad Jewish Center Rabbi Yossi Labkowski.

He was just 10 feet from where a man threw a brick at the door.

“I see this gentleman picking up a brick and just throwing it out the door once, twice, three times, four times trying to break the glass trying to get in,” said Rabbi Labkowski.

Chabad Jewish Center damage. (Credit: WINK News)

Rabbi Labkowski said the violence didn’t start at the door. It began at a painted menorah that has sat outside of the Chabad Jewish Center since Hanukkah.

“We hear this loud, loud noise. We were just about to go outside to see what happened. It was the menorah outside he knocked down,” Rabbi Labkowski said.

Chabad Jewish Center menorah painting. (Credit: WINK News)

Then the still unidentified man moved to the door, throwing brick after brick where shabbos services had just ended. A few congregants, including Jacob Ben-Haim, were still in the building.

“I thought for a moment, this is a gunshot,” said Ben-Haim.

The bricks didn’t break through the hurricane-impact glass, so the man moved to the rabbi’s car and smashed the windshield.

“People from nearby heard that loud noise was like a real loud noise that was so they came they came they were pulling into the driveway,” said Rabbi Labkowski.

Chabad Jewish Center vandalism suspect. (Credit: Cape Coral Police Department)

That’s how they ended up with a picture of the suspect’s car. Above is a view of the driver’s side front end of an older model Ford Edge. Witnesses say it had Florida plates.

This act of violence does not shy Jewish people away from their faith because love will always be stronger than hate.

“Seek God and get the hate. Just remove the hate from you. People are out there to help. People are out there… there’s a lot of love—a lot of good. A lot of kindness,” Rabbi Labkowski said.

Kindness goes a long way, and security helps too. Rabbi Labkowski said there would be a sheriff’s office watch tower placed in addition to increased police patrols.

The Chabad Center is also installing cameras on the outside of the building, so if anyone tries this again, it won’t be as easy to get away.

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.