Albuquerque Man Held in Custody After Vandalism of Jewish Properties

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has taken action in federal court in New Mexico regarding a man accused of damaging windows at two Jewish facilities in Albuquerque. The individual, 25-year-old Rex Crofton, is being held pending trial due to concerns over his mental health, threats of violence, and his access to firearms, which may pose a risk to the community. A federal judge has mandated that Crofton be returned to custody following a detention hearing.

Crofton’s behavior has raised alarm among those close to him, with friends and family expressing concern over his increasingly racist remarks, some of which included threats. According to a memorandum submitted to the court by Blanche and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, Crofton has shown a propensity to escalate from hateful rhetoric to acts of vandalism.

Documentation from the court reveals that Crofton had multiple firearms accessible to him. He is scheduled for a hearing about extreme risk firearms protection in New Mexico District Court.

“Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident,” Blanche’s memorandum noted. “Nonetheless, his past conduct, violent statements, and access to weapons indicate he possesses both the willingness and capacity to engage in behavior that could potentially harm a large number of individuals. Given his current mental state, even stringent release conditions would not sufficiently mitigate these risks.”

Before the vandalism on June 2, Crofton allegedly stated, “I’m going to kill Jews,” as he left his parents’ residence. Family members revealed to prosecutors that these statements were not uncommon for him. The memorandum highlighted that he has a history of bipolar disorder and multiple personality disorder, with his family also supporting his detention until trial.

Text messages submitted in the court filing reveal various anti-Semitic comments made by Crofton prior to the alleged attacks. In one message, he reportedly wrote, “I am a proud Nazi in diapers,” later changing it to “I will die a proud Nazi.”

Just two days prior to the attack, Crofton sent a lengthy message stating, “Be nice to the rabbi/This Sunday could be a great day/I was going to take down the synagogue too.” He further added, “I’m going to lay down my life on Saturday, so if you see me, please call the police. I’m going to kill a bunch of Jews. Then I’ll find you.”

Witnesses reported that on June 2, Crofton drove to Congregation Albert Synagogue, where he smashed a front window with a crowbar and then attempted to break the bulletproof glass at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque. This prompted emergency notices to parents about the facility’s sudden closure.

The FBI was monitoring Crofton after the incidents; however, he evaded capture initially. Agents later managed to persuade him to surrender, and Albuquerque police took him into custody shortly afterward. He was transferred to federal custody following his arrest.