Ahmed al Jabali, who attacked barber Slava Shushakova with scissors last August, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault as a hate crime. The attack stemmed from Jabali's anger related to the Israeli-Hamas conflict, claiming he had the right to "punish Jews". As part of a plea deal, Jabali will serve a six-year sentence, which could have been longer. The incident raised concerns about rising antisemitism in Westchester County, prompting local authorities to reaffirm their commitment to combating such violence.
"Hate has no home in Westchester County," stated Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace, emphasizing the commitment to address rising antisemitism in the community.
Shushakova, reflecting on the attack, emphasized, "Thank God he didn't touch my face because he tried to hit me different ways. This is how I stopped him, with my hands."
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