A man from Yonkers has pleaded guilty to a violent antisemitic assault on a local Jewish barber, the Westchester County District Attorney’s office announced on Monday. Ahmed Al Jabali admitted to second-degree assault as a hate crime, a class C violent felony, for the August 2024 attack on Slava Shushakov, a barber and prominent member of the Jewish community.
According to the District Attorney’s report, Al Jabali entered Shushakov’s barbershop under the pretense of requesting a shave. But the encounter quickly turned violent when Al Jabali grabbed a pair of barber shears and hurled an antisemitic slur at Shushakov, calling him an “[expletive] Jew.” He then attempted multiple times to stab the barber with the scissors, slashing him on the arm and hand in the process, all while continuing to shout antisemitic hate speech.
District Attorney Susan Cacace condemned the attack in a powerful statement:
“Hate has no home in Westchester County. The rise in antisemitic hate over the last several years is disturbing and completely unacceptable. Today and every day, my office stands with the Jewish community of Westchester and will seek justice for victims of antisemitic violence.”
Shushakov, who sustained physical injuries and emotional trauma from the incident, expressed gratitude for the support he’s received and emphasized the broader implications of the attack.
“No one should have to go through what I went through,” Shushakov said. “This attack is a reminder that we have a lot more to do to eradicate hate and antisemitism in Westchester County. I want to thank DA Cacace and the Yonkers police for helping me get through this difficult time and for making sure I could get justice.”
The assault came amid rising tensions worldwide following the October 7 escalation of conflict in Gaza. Shushakov believes the attack may have been influenced by the ongoing war, a concern echoed by community members and local leaders tracking the surge in hate crimes.
This case has sparked renewed calls for increased security measures, community education, and zero tolerance for hate-fueled violence in Yonkers and beyond. With Al Jabali’s guilty plea, the case moves toward sentencing, and justice inches closer for a community shaken but undeterred.
