(JTA) — Hate crimes charges were filed against two teens in an assault on at least one Chasidic man in Brooklyn.
The teens were captured Monday night in the Williamsburg neighborhood of the New York City borough by members of the Shomrim volunteer patrol following the assault, according to reports.
Brian Pena, 15, and Pete Montanez, 14, allegedly attacked Moshe Guttman, 45, as he left a Chanukah party Monday night outside of the Yeshiva Beer Hatorah.
The teens were charged as juveniles with assault as a hate crime, but community leaders are calling on Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes to charge them as adults because of the seriousness of the attacks, according to The New York Jewish Week.
Police are trying to determine whether the boys are responsible as well for an attack two weeks ago on a man wearing Chasidic garb.
Joel "Joseph" Weinberger, 26, was attacked while returning home on the evening of Thanksgiving from his job at the same yeshiva.
