Staten Island Church Firebombings Probed As Possible Hate Crimes
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Two Staten Island churches were firebombed this week, and police late Thursday were investigating both incidents as possible hate crimes.
As CBS2's Ali Bauman reported, ash now replaces the awning at First Central Baptist Church, at 117 Wright St. in the Stapleton section of Staten Island, after police said a Molotov cocktail was thrown through the building at 2 a.m. Thursday – just a few feet shy of the office window.
The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the incident as a possible bias attack.
"The only thing that conquers hate is love, so we're going to keep on being loving," said the Rev. Dale Smith, pastor of the church.
Police were looking for a connection Thursday.
"I'm pretty sure it's going to happen again," said Staten Island churchgoer Marjorie O'Callaghan.
"Apparently, there is somebody who has a problem with churches on Staten Island."
The grass was burned in front of the First Central Baptist Church, and police said they found one bottle filled with gasoline there. Another was found right below the awning, police said.
Churchgoers on Thursday were taking a path of prayer rather than resentment.
"We're praying for whoever did something like this, OK? Because something definitely has to be wrong," said Deacon Edwards of First Central Baptist.
Police were to patrol First Central Baptist and many other Stapleton churches throughout the night Thursday into Friday.
Police late Thursday released a surveillance video of a suspect in the First Central Baptist firebombing. The suspect was last seen wearing a dark-colored hooded jacket and dark-colored pants.
Anyone with information was asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS or (888) 57-PISTA for Spanish, log onto the Crime Stoppers website, or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.
