'He wanted to kill me.' Victim of alleged Yonkers hate crime speaks out
Ahmed Al Jabali pleaded not guilty in Yonkers City Court last Friday and is being held in County Jail without bail, according to his case file.
More Stories
Slava Shushakov returned to his Yonkers barbershop today for the first time since being attacked there last Thursday, August 29, in what police called an antisemitic hate crime.
"He wanted to kill me," Shushakov said.
According to the felony complaint, Ahmed Al Jabali, 34, told Shushakov "I want to kill you, you [expletive] Jew," before grabbing a pair of scissors and stabbing the barber several times.
Al Jabali slashed Shushakov three times in his right arm and hand but the barber was able to ward off attacks to his face and vital organs.
On Wednesday, the store was covered in dried blood and a menorah sat on an empty chair.
"He doesn't like Israel, he doesn't the Jews, he wanted revenge for some reason and he took my scissors and started attacking me," Shushakov said.
The Jewish immigrant from Uzbekistan said the incident started when Al Jabali came into the shop located at 797A Yonkers Avenue just before 4:00 p.m. Al Jabali was allegedly drunk and demanded a shave but Shushakov said he didn't want to pay for the service once it was done.
That's when the altercation happened.
"He told me I want to hit your kidney, I want to hit your heart, I want to hit your face and he tried," Shushakov said.
Shushakov said he brandished a knife and scared the suspect out of the shop.
Shushakov said he had no prior interactions with Al Jabali but had recognized him as a local man who he had seen walking the neighborhood.
Witnesses described the scene.
"I saw lots of police and moved to the other end and saw one ambulance, three or four cars of police and a man with bloody hands," said Jack Patel, an employee at a nearby store Jack Patel.
Al Jabali was arrested the same day as the attack and pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree attempted murder as a hate crime in Yonkers City Court last Friday, Aug. 30 and is being held in Westchester County Jail without bail, according to court documents.
Al Jabali is scheduled to be back in Yonkers City Court next Friday, September 13.
The Yonkers Police have referred all inquiries about the case to the Westchester District Attorney's office.
Legal Aid of Westchester, representing Al Jabali, has not yet responded to News 12's request for comment.
