A 30-year-old Florida man has been arrested after allegedly throwing a brick through the window of a Chabad shul in Sarasota in what authorities are investigating as a hate crime.

Police identified the suspect as Brayton Laschinger, who is accused of targeting the Jewish community center during the early morning hours of July 29, causing more than $5,000 in damage.

According to investigators, surveillance footage and information provided by the suspect’s roommate quickly led detectives to identify and arrest Laschinger. During questioning, he allegedly admitted to the attack, telling investigators he had been influenced by content he viewed on social media shortly beforehand.

Police said Laschinger also acknowledged that he deliberately targeted the building because it was a Jewish place of worship.

He has been charged with criminal mischief involving damage to religious property, with prosecutors treating the case as a hate crime because of the alleged antisemitic motive.

The incident comes amid continued concerns over rising antisemitism in the United States, where Jewish institutions have faced an increase in threats and attacks in recent years. Florida has also seen several other antisemitic incidents, including a 2025 arson attack targeting a Chabad center in Punta Gorda.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)