Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of KONRAD PIELAK, 29, for stabbing a Turkish man and attempting to stab three others with a knife on West 44th Street on April 15, 2022. PIELAK is charged with two counts of Attempted Assault in the First Degree as a Hate Crime, two counts of Assault in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime, six counts of Attempted Assault in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree. [1]
“This group of individuals was viciously attacked simply because they were Turkish. Nobody should feel unsafe sitting outside and speaking in their native language, and if you are a victim of a hate crime I encourage you to please call our hotline at 212-335-3100. Combatting bias-driven crime continues to be a top priority for my Office, which is why we are expanding our Hate Crimes Unit so it has enhanced capacity to prosecute cases and support our communities,” said District Attorney Bragg.
At approximately 12:08AM while walking down West 44th Street between 9th and 10th Avenue, PIELAK approached a group of men who were speaking to each other in Turkish, and asked them, “Are you Turkish?” When the men replied yes, PIELAK said, “I hate Turks,” and lunged at the men with a knife, stabbing one victim in the chest.
He then rushed at three other individuals in the group and attempted to stab them. PIELAK then said he would “be back tomorrow to kill you” and fled the scene. The stab victim suffered a wound to the chest and was transported to the hospital. PIELAK was arrested on April 20th by NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force after an NYPD officer recognized Pielak from surveillance footage from the scene of the crime.
Assistant D.A. Matthew Lindenmuth is handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Hannah Yu (Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit), Assistant D.A. Charles Whitt (Chief of Trial Bureau 60) and Executive Assistant D.A. Joyce Smith (Chief of the Trial Division).
D.A. Bragg thanks Inspector Andrew Arias and Det. Ashley Breton from NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force as well as members of the Midtown North Precinct for their assistance with the investigation and arrest.”
Defendant Information:
KONRAD PIELAK
New York, NY
Charged:
- Attempted Assault in the First Degree as a Hate Crime, two counts
- Assault in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime, two counts
- Attempted Assault in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime, six counts
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, one count
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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.