Alleged anti-Semite may have staked out Brighton Jewish day school the day before he allegedly stabbed a rabbi repeatedly

Khaled Awad, 24, faces arraignment in Suffolk Superior Court tomorrow on a variety of charges including a formal hate-crime charge for a July 1 attack in which a rabbi was stabbed repeatedly outside his school on Chestnut Hill Avenue in Brighton, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

According to the DA's office:

A witness captured footage on a cell phone of Mr. Awad behaving suspiciously in the area of the day school a day prior to the attack.

Awad had initially been arraigned on assault-and-battery charges in Brighton District Court for the attack on Rabbi Shlomo Noginski in the park across the street from Shaloh House. He is currently being held at Bridgewater State Hospital.

A Suffolk County grand jury indicted Awad for armed assault with intent to murder, aggravated assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon (knife), assault by means of a dangerous weapon (gun), assault and battery for the purpose of intimidation resulting in bodily injury, violating an individual’s constitutional rights, two counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon and two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon on school grounds, the DA's office reports.

According to the DA's office:

Individuals known to Mr. Awad made statements to investigators indicating that Mr. Awad held a hatred of Jewish individuals, providing the required evidence of hateful motive to support charges under the Commonwealth’s hate crime statutes.

The DA's office provided this account of Noginski's stabbing:

Security camera footage captured Mr. Awad approaching the victim, Rabbi Shlomo Noginski on the Jewish day school’s steps as a children’s camp was underway at the location on July 1, 2021. The victim’s style of dress made him identifiable as an Hasidic Jew, and a large menorah on the school’s grounds made clear that the institution was affiliated with Judaism. Mr. Awad allegedly drew a weapon that appeared to be a gun and, through words and gestures, made what the victim interpreted to be a demand for the keys to the school van. When the rabbi, in fear, attempted to hand over the keys, Mr. Awad rejected the keys and instead motioned for the rabbi to enter the van in an apparent attempt to isolate him.

At the same time, Mr. Awad put away the weapon and pulled out a knife. The victim took advantage of that opportunity to flee into a nearby park. Mr. Awad chased after him and attacked him with the knife. In total, the rabbi was stabbed nine times and suffered serious wounds to the upper left chest near his heart and deep lacerations to his left arm, which he had used to shield himself from the violent attack.

Witnesses called 911 and Boston Police officers arrived within minutes. Officers located Mr. Awad in a nearby alleyway. He was armed and brandished a gun at the officers. Boston Police Officers skillfully deescalated the interaction and successfully convinced Mr. Awad to drop his weapon. Mr. Awad was taken into custody with a struggle, but without a single weapon being discharged.

In addition to BPD detectives and investigators from the DA's civil-rights unit, FBI agents also participated in the investigation.

Innocent, etc.