Brooklyn Resident Indicted for Alleged Antisemitic Assault and Robbery of Jewish Man Within New York City Subway System

Neil Hurlock faces hate crime charges after allegedly assaulting a Jewish man on a Brooklyn subway. Read the details of the indictment and investigation.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 1, 2026, 4:18 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Luke Tress

The Incident at Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center

Violence erupted within the Brooklyn transit network on the morning of March 2 when a suspect allegedly targeted a man based on his visible religious identity. According to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office, 20 year old Neil Hurlock followed his victim into a train at the Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center station. The victim, who was identifiable as Jewish by his traditional clothing and kippah, was reading a religious text at the time of the encounter. Prosecutors allege that Hurlock, wearing a black face mask, initiated a senseless physical confrontation that moved from the platform onto the subway car.

Details of the Physical Confrontation

The indictment outlines a brutal series of actions where Hurlock allegedly punched the victim in the face twice before physically lifting him and striking him again. The victim was then reportedly thrown onto the subway seats, where he was subjected to several additional punches to the head. During the height of the assault, the attacker allegedly used antisemitic slurs, specifically shouting, “Fucking Jew,” at the victim. The encounter concluded when the suspect allegedly removed the kippah from the victim’s head and fled the scene, leaving the man with significant bruising, swelling, and cuts to his hands.

Evidence Recovery and Suspect Identification

A critical breakthrough in the investigation occurred when the defendant’s mobile phone fell from his pocket during the struggle. Despite his injuries, the victim was able to recover the device and immediately contacted the police. While the victim was transported to a hospital for medical treatment, investigators executed a search warrant on the abandoned phone. By obtaining the phone number and conducting a targeted investigation, the New York Police Department was able to identify and arrest Hurlock several days after the incident occurred.