Anti-Israel activist admits to torching 11 NYPD vehicles in arson spree

A Brooklyn activist with a history of arrests at pro-Palestinian protests has pleaded guilty to setting fire to 11 empty police vehicles last summer. Jakhi McCray, 22, admitted to the arson spree on June 12, which caused $800,000 in damages to New York City police department vehicles.

McCray now faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years and up to two decades in prison when he is sentenced. The U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella stated, “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.”

According to prosecutors, McCray scaled a fence leading to a police parking lot in Brooklyn and set fire to 10 NYPD vehicles and a trailer. He managed to escape through a hole in the fence after being spotted by an officer, but left behind a cigar lighter and pair of sunglasses with his fingerprints.

McCray eventually turned himself in to the police a month after the arson spree. In a statement at the time, he criticized the harassment faced by activists protesting against “the genocide in Palestine and the kidnapping of migrants.” He also mentioned his previous 12 arrests and claimed to have been frequently misrepresented by the press and law enforcement.

McCray’s attorney, Ron Kuby, declined to comment and deferred to a collective of activists supporting McCray. In a statement released by the Support Committee for Jakhi McCray, he was described as a “dedicated organizer, activist, and community member whose work has touched countless lives.”

The guilty plea marks a significant development in the case, with McCray now facing the consequences of his actions. The damage caused by the arson spree not only affected the police department’s resources but also put lives at risk. The sentencing will determine the extent of McCray’s punishment for the destruction he caused.