The man who attacked U.S. Rep Lee Zeldin, the Republican nominee for New York Governor, at a campaign event Thursday night was arrested and charged with assault, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Zeldin was speaking at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8495 in the Town of Perinton, near Rochester, when a man from the crowd climbed onto the stage and swung a sharp weapon at Zeldin.
A video of Zeldin’s speech, shared by Brandon Lewis of The Firing Pin shooting range, shows the moment the man approaches Zeldin. A voice can be heard saying what are you doing, and a struggle ensues. Multiple people rush the attacker and tackle him to the ground.
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, Zeldin tweeted. His words as he tried to stab me a few hours ago were ‘you’re done’.
The sheriff’s office said David G. Jakubonis, 43, of Fairport, N.Y., was arrested and charged with attempted assault in the second degree. Jakubonis was arraigned in Perinton Town Court and released.
