Hate Crime Charges Leveled Against Huntington Man for Alleged Threats and Vehicle Attack on Muslim Men

A Huntington man is facing multiple hate crime charges after allegedly threatening to kill four Muslim men and then ramming his vehicle into theirs while both were stopped at a red light in town, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office.

Confrontation Leads to Violent Incident, Sparking Hate Crime Charges

Alleged Threats and Vehicle Attack Targeting Muslim Men

Brendan Marchetti, 35, was stopped at a red light in Huntington around 9 a.m. on June 17 when four men, dressed in traditional Muslim attire, pulled up in a car next to his, Suffolk prosecutors said in a news release. Marchetti allegedly made threatening statements, saying "in sum and substance that he wanted to kill all Muslims, that all Muslims should die, and that he wanted to blow them up," according to District Attorney Ray Tierney.Marchetti then allegedly drove his vehicle into the side of the other car, causing damage exceeding ,500, prosecutors said. The four men were on their way to a mosque at the time of the incident.

Hate Crime Charges and Judicial Proceedings

Marchetti pleaded not guilty on Wednesday before District Judge Rosann Orlando to charges of second-degree criminal mischief as a hate crime, second-degree reckless endangerment as a hate crime, and second-degree aggravated harassment as a hate crime, according to court documents.Judge Orlando ordered Marchetti to be placed on supervised release with mental health conditions, prosecutors said in the release. He is due back in court in Central Islip on July 24. Marchetti is represented by the Legal Aid Society, which could not be reached for comment.

Prosecutor's Stance on Hate Crimes and Upholding Tolerance

"Prosecuting hate crimes is essential to not only protect victims but to also uphold the values of tolerance and respect, especially for other people's religions," Tierney said. "Hate in any form has no place in Suffolk County, and those who perpetrate such acts will face the full force of the law."The incident has sparked outrage and concern within the local Muslim community, who are calling for swift and decisive action to address the growing problem of hate-motivated crimes. Community leaders have vowed to work closely with law enforcement and local officials to ensure that such incidents are swiftly and thoroughly investigated, and that the perpetrators are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.