By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-15 19:46:05 | Updated at 2026-08-15 20:10:09
30 minutes ago
The unhinged lunatic who stormed into a Manhattan synagogue is a deranged serial robber who sources say told cops “F–k the Jews” after the hate-filled attack — but his aunt bizarrely claims he wants to be Jewish.
Larry Montes allegedly barged into Central Synagogue on Lexington Avenue and East 55th Street on Friday around 6 p.m. during a Shabbat service — unleashing chaos on the peaceful place of worship.
The 46-year-old assailant allegedly slugged a 63-year-old woman, headbutted and spat on a 65-year-old security guard who tried to intervene, and broke two religious candles valued at $20,000.
“He was being very boisterous, screaming and yelling,” during the incident, a police source said.
The Bronx man was charged with two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime and will be arraigned Saturday.
“I have spoken with the rabbi of the synagogue, and I’m relieved that no one was seriously injured,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement, adding that NYPD resources have been ramped up around the house of prayer.
Montes’ aunt Myriam Montes, who lives in Puerto Rico, told The Post that she believes he’s gone off the rails.
“I feel terrible about what happened to this young man—my nephew. He’s had issues regarding religion, but he didn’t act the way he should have,” she said in Spanish.
“He’s mentally traumatized because of his desire to belong to that religion [Judaism]—that’s what he’s said. Given what happened, he might not have been in his right mind; he’s mentally traumatized.”
Myriam, who hasn’t spoken with Montes in about three months, said his infatuation with the religion seemed to “escalate.”
“I told him he had to be careful with that because those things are sacred — you have to approach them seriously,” she explained. “He wanted to keep studying because it seemed like he had a dream he was pursuing.”
She also blamed his mental state on childhood trauma. His mother died during childbirth and he had trouble coping with what happened to her, she claimed.
Montes’ Facebook is flooded with posts about Israel and Judaism.
One image depicts two hands, one covered in the Puerto Rican flag and the other covered in the Israeli flag, reaching toward each other, while another picture reads: “Keep Israel in your heart.”
He’s also reposted videos that slam anti-Israel Mayor Zohran Mamdani, including a clip of a woman comparing Mamdani to an Iranian dictator.
Mamdani, who has been slammed for his lackluster responses to antisemitism in the city, condemned Friday’s attack.
“This was a horrible attack at Central Synagogue yesterday evening,” Mayor Mamdani said during a press conference Saturday.
“We reject this with every fiber in our being. This is a city where every single New Yorker should be safe, and Jewish New Yorkers should be able to go to their synagogue without having to fear for their lives … We are going to do everything in our power to ensure that we are uprooting antisemitism from across the five boroughs, ensuring it has no place in the city that we all call home.”
Montes, who police say is a known emotionally disturbed person, was arrested at least twice before for violent robberies.
On the Fourth of July 2023, he was charged with robbery with a deadly weapon after he pulled a knife on an employee trying to stop him from stealing $25 wireless headphones from a Best Buy at 1280 Lexington Ave.
He also pummeled a 20-year-old worker in the head after attempting to steal four deodorants from a CVS at 2833 Broadway in July 2019.
Cops discovered that Montes was carrying a crack pipe during that incident. He was charged with robbery, criminal possession of stolen property and criminal possession of a controlled substances.
“I think his mind isn’t right and that he needs good therapy,” Myriam said.
