A New Jersey man is facing federal hate crime charges for “a spree of violent assaults” on members of an Orthodox Jewish community on a single day in April, officials said Wednesday.
Dion Marsh allegedly attacked four Jews, according to prosecutors. According to US Attorney Philip R. Sellinger of New Jersey, he faces four counts of willful bodily injury and violating the federal hate crimes prevention act.
Marsh allegedly waived his rights and made a taped statement to investigators, according to the federal complaint. That “it had to be done,” he allegedly said, and “these are the real devils.”
When investigators asked to whom he was referring, Marsh allegedly replied, “the Hasidic Jews.”
On April 8, federal prosecutors allege that Marsh carjacked an Orthodox Jewish man in Lakewood, assaulting him and driving off, the US Attorney’s Office said in a release.
According to a press release from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, a second Orthodox Jewish man was struck by Marsh’s vehicle in the parking lot of a supermarket, resulting in multiple broken bones.
