Man Smashes Iconic Virgin Mary Statue Outside NYC Church, Suspect Sought by NYPD

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is investigating the destruction of a Virgin Mary statue outside St. Rita Roman Catholic Church in Long Island City as a possible hate crime after a man climbed over security barriers and smashed the statue with a hammer. The incident was caught on camera, showing the masked individual striking the statue multiple times before fleeing the scene. The NYPD is reviewing footage to determine if the act was motivated by hatred or bias. No charges have been filed yet in connection with the vandalism.