Anti-Israeli protester accused of torching NYPD cars charged as supporters cause chaos in court: ‘F–k peace'
Jakhi Lodgson McCray, 21, strolled out of Brooklyn Supreme Court after being arraigned in last month's arson stunt that caused at least $800,000 in damages to police vehicles — with about a dozen keffiyeh-wearing trouble makers who berated cops and reporters with vulgar threats.
5 Supporters of accused cop car arsonist Jakhi Lodgson McCray cursed out police and reporters in Brooklyn court.
AP
'You guys are f–king disgusting,' one wanna-be bully told reporters. 'You're a f–king piece of s–t.'
One cop asked the mob, 'I thought you guys were all about peace.'
'F–k peace,' one punk fired back.
The state court arraignment came one day after McCray, identified by law enforcement sources as a known 'Free Palestine' protester, was arrested on federal arson charges in the car-torching case.
5 Jakhi Lodgson McCray, 21, is charged in state and federal court with torching 11 NYPD vehicles on June 12.
via REUTERS
5 Police said 10 NYPD squad cars and one trailer were burned at a Bushwick lot, causing $800,000 in damages.
Gabriella Bass
The charges stem from the early morning caught-on-camera incident at an NYPD parking lot just one block from the 83rd Precinct station house around 1:30 a.m. on June 12.
A surveillance camera at the lot allegedly caught McCray setting fire to 10 squad cars and a police trailer before escaping through a hole in the fence at the Bushwick lot.
Police recovered a cigarette lighter, 22 retail fire starters and 10 BBQ dragon egg fire starters at the scene — along with a pair of sunglasses that allegedly had McCray's fingerprints, the federal complaint said.
In a statement in the federal case, US Attorney Joseph Nocella called the stunt 'deeply disruptive.'
5 Surveillance camera footage captured the arsonist who torched 11 NYPD vehicles on June 12.
DCPI
5 Supporters of accused arsonist Jakhi Lodgson McCray shielded him from cameras and cursed out cops and reporters.
In the state case, McCray was charged with criminal mischief, making graffiti and possession of a graffiti instrument, and was released without bail because the charges are not bail-eligible under the state's controversial 2019 criminal justice reforms.
According to police, he is also linked to the destruction of a statue at Columbia University during an unruly protest at the Ivy League campus in September.
In court Tuesday, McCray wore a dirty red hoodie and a mask, and looked cocky — at one point turning and waving at the group of supporters inside the courtroom.
As he left court, three of them covered McCray in keffiyehs while cursing out reporters.
He is due to return to court on Aug. 5.
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