Machete Attack Victim In Coma: News Report

NEW CITY, NY — The family of the man most severely wounded in a machete attack Dec. 28 at a Hanukkah celebration in Monsey told The Journal News that his prognosis is not good.

Josef Neumann, 72, sustained several injuries in addition to the fractured skull reported initially by police. He was rushed to Westchester Medical Center, and remains in a coma. His daughter Nicky Kohen told The Journal News that Neumann's arm had been shattered and he had also been sliced in the neck.

Kohen told the media Thursday that Newmann, a great-grandfather, was undergoing surgery for a tracheotomy.

Read the entire article at lohud.com.

About 100 people were at the home of Rabbi Chaim Leibowitz Rottenberg when a man entered, slashed four people, then fled. A fifth person was injured in the melee. One of the celebrants took down the license plate of the van the attacker left in and reported it to police, who picked up the van's track on a traffic cam shortly afterward.

The driver and alleged attacker, Grafton Thomas of Greenwood Lake in Orange County, was arrested in New York City. He was arraigned Sunday in Ramapo and held on $5 million bail. He faces local attempted murder charges and federal hate-crime charges.

SEE ALSO:

• $5 Million Bail For Man Accused In Hanukkah Stabbings
• Family: Hanukkah Stabbing Suspect Had Mental Illness History
• Rockland Attack Latest In Region's Series of Hate Crimes
• Feds: Man Accused In Hanukkah Stabbing Had Anti-Semitic Materials
• In Wake Of Monsey Attack, U.S. Senators Offer Support
  
• Heroic Hanukkah Celebrant Honored: Lowey
• Hudson Valley Attack Horrifies Local, State, National Officials