NY GOP gubernatorial nominee Lee Zeldin attacked on stage during campaign stop near Rochester
Lee Zeldin, the Republican candidate for New York governor, was attacked during a campaign stop near Rochester in upstate Monroe County on Thursday night — but escaped injury and managed to finish his speech.
Zeldin, also a sitting US congressman from Long Island, was campaigning at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Perinton when a man jumped on stage and lunged toward the lawmaker with an unknown weapon, according to witnesses and video of the incident.
“I saw that he [was] approaching the congressman, so I jumped up on the stage,” witness Joe Chenelly told The Post.
“The congressman turned and faced him. I thought he might just be there to hug the congressman or to, you know, maybe heckle him or something along those lines.”
The suspect was identified as 43-year-old David Jakubonis of Fairport, NY.
Jakubonis was charged with attempted assault in the second degree and released on his own recognizance.
After Jakubonis allegedly flashed the weapon and appeared to be wrestling with Zeldin, Chenelly tackled the man to the ground.
“He reached into his right pocket and pulled out what appeared to be a knife or a razor blade, maybe a boxcutter and lunged at the congressman,” Chenelly said.
Jakubonis allegedly shouted “You’re done” as he approached Zeldin, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Zeldin attempted to block the suspect — who witnesses told WHEC was disheveled and possibly intoxicated — and the man lunged at Zeldin once more.
“I tackled him from behind and wrapped him up and dropped him on the right side on stage,” Chenelly said.
Jakubonis was detained by a number of witnesses including GOP candidate for lieutenant governor Alison Esposito.
Chenelly credited Esposito, a 20-year member of the NYPD, for grabbing the weapon out of the suspect’s hand.
Soon after the incident, Zeldin got back on stage and finished his speech. Late Thursday, the congressman told The Post via text he was “OK” and called the ordeal “crazy.”
Zeldin also addressed the attack in a separate tweet, where he said, “Someone tried to stab me on stage during this evening’s rally, but fortunately, I was able to grab his wrist and stop him for a few moments until others tackled him.”
The suspect is an Iraq War veteran, according to WROC-TV.
Zeldin, who beat three other Republicans to grab the GOP nomination in the governor’s race in a primary last month, faces Gov. Kathy Hochul, the Democratic incumbent, this November.
Hochul, in a tweet, condemned the attack on her GOP rival.
“My team has informed me about the incident at Lee Zeldin’s campaign event tonight. Relieved to hear that Congressman Zeldin was not injured and that the suspect is in custody,” she said in the tweet. “I condemn this violent behavior in the strongest terms possible — it has no place in New York.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, also denounced the attack on Zeldin and used the incident to blame New York’s bail reform laws for “soaring crime.”
“Tonight’s attack on Congressman Lee Zeldin at a Monroe County campaign event was much more than an assault on a single individual. It was emblematic of an ongoing attack on our Democracy, our freedom and our very way of life,” said Blakeman.
“There must be real changes to ‘cashless bail’ laws, and we must support law enforcement to keep neighbors safe and hold those who endanger the public accountable for their actions,” he added.
Despite Thursday night’s scare, Zeldin plans to continue campaigning upstate on Friday, with scheduled stops in Seneca, Onondaga, Jefferson and Lewis counties.
Additional reporting by Bernadette Hogan and Zach Williams
