The family of Albert Itzkowitz, a 75-year-old kosher bakery owner and rabbi, suspects he was the victim of a hate crime after he was found shot dead in Kissena Park on May 18. They have increased the reward for information leading to an arrest to $20,000.

Itzkowitz was discovered with gunshot wounds to the neck and back near the shoreline of Kissena Lake around 5 p.m. The city's medical examiner has ruled his death a homicide. As of Thursday, more than a month after the incident, no arrests or suspects have been named by the NYPD, and the motive remains unclear. "All motives are being explored during the investigation," police stated.

Itzkowitz's daughter, Leah Livshitz, described her father as "visibly Jewish" and suggested he was targeted while sitting in the park, a place he frequented for lunch. "He was not involved in a dispute. He was not committing any crime. His wallet was still on him," she said. "He was simply sitting there, an Orthodox Jewish man, dressed as he was. A rabbi going about his day."

Investigators found Itzkowitz with a beach chair, a baseball cap, and sunglasses, and noted he appeared to have been sunbathing. Earlier that day, he had made trips to his home, a synagogue, a bank, and a pharmacy.

The NYPD has stated that Itzkowitz was not found in attire with "no distinguishing religious factors" that would identify him as Jewish, and therefore has not classified the case as a hate crime. However, his family maintains that his "visibly Jewish" appearance at the time of his death, coupled with the lack of other apparent motives, fuels their suspicion.

Tzvi Yonie Itzkowitz, the victim's youngest son, confirmed that the family is matching Crime Stoppers' $10,000 reward, bringing the total to $20,000 for any information that leads to an arrest. "The police estimate there could have been 200, 300 people here. It's a very large park. They're asking that anyone who saw anything or knows anything to come forward," he said.

Family members expressed bewilderment at the idea of Itzkowitz having enemies, describing him as a kind and loving man. "When the police were asking us, 'Does he have any enemies? Does he have any neighbors who he had troubles with?', we all were crying... But at the same time we started laughing out loud and everyone started smiling, 'Enemies?' The thought is comical to us. He was the sweetest, kindest man. So nice and lovely to everyone," his son recounted.

Itzkowitz was the owner of the G&I Kosher Bakery on Main Street and a volunteer EMT. He was also a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. His wife had passed away just a few weeks before his death on April 30.

State Senator John Liu urged the public to come forward with any information, emphasizing that "somebody must have seen and heard something." He added, "There is a killer at large. And it makes it dangerous for all of us and our families."

According to NYPD data, 41 anti-Jewish hate crimes were reported in New York City in May, a more than 70 percent increase from the 24 reported in May of the previous year. From January through May, 152 anti-Semitic crimes were reported, up from 143 during the same period last year.