In a shocking incident that has left the community in Manhattan’s Chinatown reeling, the Church of the Transfiguration recently suffered an attack that damaged its stained glass windows and wooden structures. Father Kevin Kwan, the church’s rector, shared his concerns in a statement released on October 25, urging the Chinatown community to unite and safeguard public safety during this critical time.
“Although the NYPD has not classified this incident as a hate crime targeting Asian Americans, it has deeply shaken the congregation’s sense of security,” Father Kwan explained. “Older residents, in particular, have heightened anxieties about safety in Chinatown following the pandemic.” He noted, “Our congregation is more worried about their safety than ever. We need to work closely together as a community to address these public safety challenges.”
The church is calling on residents to come together to construct a safer living environment. Father Kwan emphasized, “Only by standing united and supporting one another can we ensure everyone’s safety.”
While it is known that homeless individuals often gather in the vicinity of the church, this attack marked the first of its kind. Father Kwan mentioned that the church has typically dealt with such disturbances discreetly, but this violent act highlighted the vulnerabilities within the community. The church plans to continue fostering community solidarity and increasing residents’ awareness of safety.
According to police reports, at around noon on September 30, a man threw a rock, shattering the church’s colorful stained glass window, before quickly leaving the scene. This occurred while a mass was being held, and the window not only broke but also caused damage to several wooden decorative structures, narrowly missing a parishioner who was praying. Surveillance footage revealed that the suspect had walked by the church prior to the incident, returned, and took action during a brief moment of solitude on the street, indicating premeditation.
In response to the damage, the church has temporarily covered the broken window with a wooden board. However, the estimated cost for repairing the stained glass is between $15,000 and $20,000, with repairs potentially taking up to a year to complete.
Local Chinese business owners in the area reported that they were unaware of the incident, but noted the long-standing presence of homeless individuals in the neighborhood due to its proximity to the park. “We all focus on our own businesses and ordinarily don’t interact much with the homeless. I’ve never heard of them causing active damage before,” one business owner remarked. Meanwhile, police are conducting an investigation to locate the suspect, whose registered address is a homeless shelter in the Bronx, and who is not a regular presence in Chinatown.
