Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on August 25, 2021

The man accused of stabbing a rabbi last month outside a Jewish day school is expected to be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on Thursday after a grand jury returned nine indictments against him, prosecutors said.

Khaled Awad, 24, is expected to be arraigned on armed assault with intent to murder, aggravated assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon (a knife), assault by means of a dangerous weapon (a gun), assault and battery for the purpose of intimidation resulting in bodily injury, violating an individuals constitutional rights, two counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon and two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon on school grounds, Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins said.

Awad previously was arraigned in Brighton District Court in connection with the July 1 attack on Rabbi Shlomo Noginski and sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for evaluation.

This act of violence nearly killed the victim, Rollins said. But it also traumatized the entire Jewish community and deeply impacted the people of Brighton.

Security camera footage captured Awad approaching the victim on the Jewish day schools steps as a childrens camp was underway. The victims style of dress made him identifiable as an Hasidic Jew, and a large menorah on the schools grounds made clear that the institution was affiliated with Judaism, the district attorney said.

Awad allegedly drew a weapon that appeared to be a gun and made what the victim interpreted to be a demand for the keys to the school van, she said. When the rabbi attempted to hand over the keys, Awad rejected them and instead motioned for the rabbi to enter the van, Rollins said.

At the same time, Awad put away the weapon and pulled out a knife, Rollins said. The victim fled to a nearby park, she said, and chased after him and stabbed him nine times. The rabbi also suffered serious wounds to the upper left chest near his heart and deep lacerations to his left arm, which he had used to try to shield himself from the attack.

Witnesses called 911, and officers found Awad minutes later in a nearby alleyway, where he brandished a gun at the officers, Rollins said. The officers convinced him to drop his weapon, and he was taken into custody after a struggle.

Detectives located security camera footage from multiple locations as well as body-worn camera footage that captured the attack and the events that followed nearly in their entirety, she said.

A witness also captured footage on a cellphone of Awad behaving suspiciously in the area of the day school a day prior to the attack, the district attorney said.

People who knew him told investigators he hated Jews. Awads attorney, Janice Bassil, could not immediately be reached for comment.

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Man accused of stabbing rabbi to be arraigned on nine indictments, including violating his Constitutional rights - Boston Herald

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