A heavy metal vandal painted a menacing drawing of what appears to be a red eye on the steps of an Upper East Side synagogue, police said Tuesday.
The unidentified man was seen on security camera wearing a Metallica T-shirt and police say he drew on the Temple steps with red marker. Emanuel Police say the incident happened just after midnight on July 14 on East 65th Street near Fifth Avenue.
Footage reviewed by the NYPD shows the suspect removing a marker from a bag during the early-morning prank, police said.
Synagogue employees reported the incident to the NYPD, and the gunman fled on foot after desecrating the place of worship, police said.
He remained at large Tuesday night.
The New York Police Department’s Hate Crimes Unit is currently investigating and is asking for the public’s help in identifying the perpetrator(s).
Temple Emanu-El was built in 1845 and is a recognized historical and architectural landmark.
Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
The public can also submit information by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website. https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/or X @NYPDTips,” the NYPD said in a statement.
