A Brooklyn activist known for participating in pro-Palestinian protests admitted in court on Wednesday to setting fire to 11 unoccupied police vehicles last summer.
Jakhi McCray, aged 22, confessed to the arson incident that took place on June 12, which reportedly caused $800,000 in damage to New York City police vehicles, according to officials.
McCray is facing a mandatory prison sentence ranging from 5 years to 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella remarked on Wednesday, “By deliberately setting fire to multiple police vehicles in the pre-dawn hours, the defendant put at risk the lives of first responders and residents asleep in their beds nearby, and ultimately, strained resources meant to protect the community.”
Prosecutors detailed that McCray climbed over a fence to access a police parking lot in Brooklyn, where he set fire to 10 NYPD vehicles and a trailer.
He managed to escape through a hole in the fence after being spotted by an NYPD officer, leaving behind a cigar lighter and sunglasses with his fingerprints, as noted in a complaint.
McCray surrendered to the police a month later.
At that time, he issued a statement condemning the harassment faced by those who protest “the genocide in Palestine and the kidnapping of migrants.”
He claimed to have been arrested 12 times before and accused the media and police of dishonest reporting about him.
Ron Kuby, McCray’s attorney, referred comments to a group of activists supporting McCray.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Support Committee for Jakhi McCray described him as a “dedicated organizer, activist, and community member whose work has touched countless lives.”
