Rockland County, NY – Following a group of attacks on Black Friday shoppers at the Palisades Mall last month, two Westchester teens have been charged with hate crimes.
Clarkstown Police have charged 17 year old Chris Bujaj of Tuckahoe and 17 year old Ardijan Mehaj of Yonkers with Assault as a Hate Crime, 3rd Degree, and Assault, 3rd Degree in the November 28th incident.
According to LoHud.com the group attacked several mall shoppers, calling two Orthodox men that they targeted “dirty Jews.”Five people were injured during the attacks which took place from 2:30 to 3:30 AM, with most suffering bumps and bruises, although one victim sustained a broken wrist. Police said that the attacks were not part of a knock-out type of game.
“There was no reason for the attacks, except for possible intoxication or just looking for trouble,” said Detective Lieutenant Glen Dietrich.
Information released by police on Facebook said that according to victims, the suspects spoke with Eastern European accents and that they fled the mall in a 2012 or 2013 black, four door, Honda Civic sedan.
Police arrested the two on December 15th and are still searching for a third suspect who has not been positively identified. He has been described as a white male, 5’6 to 5’8, wearing a black vest, a grey hoodie and dark jeans.
Bujaj and Mehaj were arraigned in Clarkstown Justice Court with bail set at $25,000 each. They are currently being held at the Rockland County Jail and will be back in court on Friday morning at 9:30 AM.
Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to call police at 845-639-5840.