In a shocking incident captured on camera, David Grinblat, 35, allegedly launched a brutal attack on Sheharyar Ali Kazmi, 25, in Midtown Manhattan on August 5. The assault, which is being investigated as a hate crime, occurred near Rockefeller Center on Fifth Avenue. Grinblat, a resident of Brooklyn, reportedly approached Kazmi, who was engaged in a phone conversation, and spat on him while hurling derogatory slurs.
According to Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Matthew Bayley, Grinblat called Kazmi a “terrorist” and a “f–king Muslim,” before demanding that he return to Asia. The situation escalated further when Grinblat proceeded to punch Kazmi multiple times in the face. Kazmi, who managed to record the altercation on his phone, followed Grinblat into the Fifth Avenue/53rd Street subway station, where the assailant continued his verbal assault, shouting “Death to all Muslims!” and physically attacking Kazmi once again.
Grinblat fled the scene but was apprehended three days later at his residence. Court records reveal that he has two prior criminal mischief cases in Brooklyn, including an incident where he allegedly threw a glass bottle of wine through a window panel. Kazmi, who sustained a bloodied lip and a facial cut, pressed charges against Grinblat, resulting in his indictment on two counts of assault in the third degree as a hate crime and aggravated harassment.
Despite prosecutors’ request for a $30,000 bail, Grinblat was released on supervised release after his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court. The decision was upheld during his subsequent arraignment in Supreme Court, where Judge Laura Ward granted his release based on his compliance with court orders. Grinblat’s lawyer, Geoffrey Bickford, argued for his client’s release, highlighting his track record of adhering to court requirements.
