Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced that Ahmed Al Jabali, 34, of Yonkers, pleaded guilty on April 17 to Assault in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime, a class C violent felony, following his vicious, antisemitic assault on a Jewish barber in the City of Yonkers.
DA Cacace said: “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.”
On Aug. 29, 2024, Al Jabali entered the Yonkers barbershop of Slava Shushakov and asked for a shave. Al Jabali grabbed a pair of barber’s shears and called Shushakov an “[expletive] Jew.” He then repeatedly attempted to stab Shushakov and ended up slashing him in the arm and hand, all while continuing to yell antisemitic slurs.
Al Jabali is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge James McCarty on May 29.
Mr. Shushakov said: “No one should have to go through what I went through. 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 case was investigated by the Yonkers Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Elizabeth Shumejda and Luis Felix.
Shortly after the incident took place, Shushakova said, “You don’t hide from antisemitism. You need to shine a light on it and call it out and stand together.”
Shushakova’s shop, Classic Touch Yonkers Avenue barber shop, is located at 797A Yonkers Avenue. Come in for a haircut.
