Man Painted Swastika On Lee Zeldin Campaign Sign In Suffolk: Police

HUNTINGTON, NY — A man who spray-painted a swastika and other things over a Lee Zeldin campaign sign was arrested and charged with a hate crime on Tuesday, Suffolk police said.

A swastika, the number “187,” and the word “Gambino,” were found painted onto a Lee Zeldin campaign sign located on the corner of West Pulaski Road and Oakwood Road in Huntington Station, police said. The graffitied sign was discovered around 10 a.m. Sunday.

"187" is slang for "murder," according to Dictionary.com.

Vincent J. Mckie, 41, of Huntington, was arrested at 12:25 p.m. Tuesday after Hate Crimes Unit detectives investigated the spray paint, police said.

Mckie was charged with first-degree aggravated harassment (a hate crime), and fourth-degree criminal mischief. He is set to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on a later date.

U.S. Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-NY) issued a statement on the "antisemitic death threats" made on his campaign sign and the resulting arrest.

"I thank Suffolk County Police Department — especially their top-notch Hate Crimes Unit — for making a swift arrest in this case," Zeldin stated. "Unfortunately, for so many New Yorkers — Asian-Americans, Sikh-Americans, Jewish Americans and many others — raw hate has become all too commonplace. We must continue to work together to crush this hate wherever it rears its ugly head.”

Zeldin, on Tuesday night, was declared the winner of the GOP primary and will vie for the New York State governorship against incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, who won the Democratic primary Tuesday.