WHITE PLAINS – Grafton Thomas, the 37-year-old Greenwood Lake man who attacked five people with a machete during a Hanukkah celebration in a rabbi’s Monsey home Saturday night, was charged Monday with five counts of obstructing the free exercise of religion in an attempt to kill, a federal hate crime.
As he entered the home, he declared “no one is leaving” and attacked the group with an 18-inch machete.
Following the attack, he drove to New York City and was stopped by members of the NYPD. The officers observed what appeared to be blood on Thomas’ hands and clothing, and a smell of bleach coming from his vehicle.
A search of his car led to the seizure of the machete that appeared to have traces of dried blood on it.
Armed with warrants, law enforcement later searched his home and cell phone. The residence contained handwritten journals with several pages of anti-Semitic references. His cell phone contained Internet searches dating back to at least November 2019 for terms such as “Zionist Temples” in Staten Island and New Jersey, as well as a website visit on the day of the attack to an article titled, “New York to increase police presence after anti-Semitic attacks.”
If convicted, each of the five federal counts carries a maximum term of life in prison.
