Man Assaults Rabbi Hours After Attacking Stranger in NYC
Police arrested Eric Avrutov, 31, for allegedly attacking a rabbi and a man pumping gas in separate incidents hours apart.
A 31-year-old man was arrested late Wednesday for allegedly assaulting a rabbi in an unprovoked attack in Brooklyn, just minutes after he reportedly attacked another man nearby. The incident occurred on Dahill Road near Cortelyou Road in Kensington around 9:20 p.m.
Authorities identified the suspect as Eric Avrutov, who has a history of prior arrests, including for a similar assault two days prior. Video released by the Boro Park Shomrim patrol shows Avrutov, according to police, cornering the 66-year-old rabbi without warning and delivering multiple blows. The attack lasted approximately 20 seconds.
The victim was taken to Maimonides Medical Center and listed in stable condition. Police apprehended Avrutov shortly after the assault.
Avrutov has been charged with assault, criminal obstruction of breathing, and harassment. The NYPD stated that the attack on the rabbi is not being investigated as a hate crime. However, it was allegedly Avrutov’s second unprovoked assault of the night. Approximately five minutes before the rabbi was attacked, Avrutov allegedly struck a 60-year-old man in the face while the victim was pumping gas at a Shell station on Cortelyou Road. For that incident, Avrutov faces charges of assault and harassment.
His arraignments for both cases were pending Thursday evening. Avrutov's previous arrest on Sunday involved allegedly punching a 23-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman at random in Brighton Beach. Despite the charges of misdemeanor assault, a judge granted him supervised release due to the nature of the charge not being bail-eligible, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.
Additionally, Avrutov was arrested on Sunday for allegedly violating an order of protection by appearing at his grandmother's Brooklyn home, leading to a charge of criminal contempt. Prosecutors requested bail for this charge, but he was again released under supervision.
Avrutov's criminal record also includes arrests for gun possession in 2024, criminal trespass, and another violation of an order of protection.
In a separate incident on Wednesday night, a sex offender named Devin Best, 48, allegedly chased a Jewish student at knifepoint in Crown Heights around 2:50 a.m., reportedly uttering antisemitic slurs. The victim managed to escape the encounter. This incident is being investigated by authorities.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned both attacks, calling them "horrifying and reprehensible," particularly as they occurred during the High Holiday season. He expressed gratitude to the NYPD for the swift apprehension of the suspects and reiterated the administration's commitment to protecting Jewish New Yorkers and combating hate.