An alleged arsonist linked to anti-Israeli sentiments turned himself in to authorities five weeks after setting fire to ten NYPD vehicles in New York City, officials reported on Monday.
Jakhi Lodgson-McCray, a 21-year-old from New Jersey, was identified through forensic and video evidence in mid-June. Now, his lawyer and mother were with him as he surrendered, having been pursued by a local fugitive task force.
The NYPD estimates the damage from the fires to exceed $800,000. Joseph Nosera, an attorney for the Eastern District of New York, stated that McCray ignited a vehicle on June 12, just before protests scheduled for that weekend. He mentioned, perhaps, that securing NYPD resources was essential.
Interestingly, McCray had a prior incident on June 13, where he allegedly burned flags outside the Israeli consulate, but he wasn’t initially connected to the NYPD vehicle fires and was charged only with disorderly conduct, which led to his quick release due to New York’s cashless bail law.
Federal prosecutors described McCray’s actions as “very dangerous,” emphasizing the impact of his actions on public safety. They further argued that the nature of the crimes warrants detention, due to the substantial risk he poses to the community.
Surveillance footage captured McCray around 12:52 AM on June 12, showing him scaling a fence to access a parking lot reserved for NYPD vehicles. After he left, ten vehicles and a trailer were found engulfed in flames. When officers arrived at around 1:24 AM, they spotted McCray near a burning vehicle, but he attempted to flee.
According to court documents, he escaped through a hole in the fence. It seems they found a lighter and other materials in the area where he entered the lot. Notably, there were fire starters hidden in some vehicles, which raises questions about his intentions.
In addition to the recent arson, McCray has a history of arrests, including for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct linked to past demonstrations. On June 18, the NYPD sought the public’s assistance in locating him, suggesting he had even destroyed his phone to evade capture.
Ultimately, nearly five weeks after the incidents, McCray voluntarily presented himself after coordination between his legal team and law enforcement. However, he had previously missed another court appointment regarding a different case, raising alarms about his reliability.
