The man who allegedly tried to stab New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin with a gun during a campaign rally Thursday was released from jail hours after his felony arrest — just as Zeldin had predicted .
David Yakubonis, 43, of Fairport, N.Y., was arraigned overnight in Perinton Town Court on a charge of attempted second-degree assault stemming from the attack on Rep. Zeldin, but was quickly released on a bond.
In a tweet after the violent incident in Monroe County, Zeldin, who is running as a tough-on-crime candidate against incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, said he expects his alleged attacker to be back on the streets in no time.
“His words when he tried to stab me a few hours ago were ‘Done’ but several attendees including @EspositoforNY quickly sprung into action and tackled the guy,” the gubernatorial candidate tweeted early Friday. “Law enforcement was on the scene within minutes. The attacker is likely to be immediately released under New York law.
David Iakubonis, 43, who allegedly attacked Lee Zeldin with a weapon during a campaign rally Thursday, has been released from jail. WHEC. Yakubonis, said to be an Iraq War veteran, was tackled to the ground and restrained by multiple witnesses. The Firing Pin, LLC/Facebook Zeldin, a sitting US congressman, had predicted Iakubonis’ speedy release from prison on his own recognizance. Twitter/ Lee Zeldin David Iakubonis, 43, of Fairport, New York, was arraigned overnight in Perinton Town Court on a charge of attempted second-degree assault stemming from the attack on Rep. Zeldin.WHEC.
Critics on Twitter reacted with a mixture of disbelief and dismay at the news of the suspect’s swift release.
“This guy tried to stab a guy running for governor and he’s back on the street?!?” Desi Cuellar, a GOP congressional candidate from Queens, tweeted. “New York has truly become a sick place run by criminals!”
Ben Domenech, editor-in-chief at The Spectator magazine, wrote: “Try stabbing a GOP congressman on stage, go free under your own signature. New York, everyone.
Yakubonis was mobbed by attendees after attacking Zeldin on stage. WHEC.
Erin Perrin, President Donald Trump’s former spokeswoman, also opined: “It’s really sad to see how much my home state supports criminals more than victims.”
Zeldin, a sitting U.S. congressman from Long Island, was giving a blistering speech on bail reform in Perrinton, New York, when he ran into Iakubonis.
Yakubonis is seen above, being led away in handcuffs. The weapon, shaped like a cat’s face, is seen in the foreground. The Firing Pin, LLC/Facebook Desi Cuellar, a Republican congressional candidate from Queens, criticized the suspect’s release under New York’s bail reform laws. Twitter/ Desi Cuellar
The 43-year-old, who is said to be an Iraq War veteran and was allegedly drunk at the time, was seen on video jumping on stage and lunging at the candidate with an unknown weapon shaped like a face of a double-edged cat.
“I saw that he [was] approaching the congressman, so I jumped on the stage,” witness Joe Chenelli told The Post.
After a brief struggle between the suspect and Zeldin, Shenelli, a combat veteran, tackled the aggressor to the ground.
Zeldin, a Republican, is seeking to unseat incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul in November. William Farrington
Chenelli told Rochester First that when he later spoke with Iakubonis and found out the suspect had served in Iraq, he promised to help him.
“When he said he served in Iraq, I dropped my hands to my knees and said, ‘You know, we’re going to go through everything you’ve done here tonight. You will improve and focus on it. You can contact me after this thing is done,” Schenelli, who is running for the state assembly, told the publication.
Iakubonis was detained by a number of witnesses, including GOP lieutenant governor candidate Alison Esposito.
Zeldin was unharmed and resumed his speech after Iakubonis was led away by police.
Later Thursday, Zeldin told The Post via text that he was “OK” and described the incident as “crazy.”
Hochul, who will face Zeldin in November, condemned the attack on her opponent.
“My team briefed me on the incident at Lee Zeldin’s campaign tonight. I am relieved to hear that Congressman Zeldin is not injured and that the suspect is in custody,” she said in the tweet. “I condemn this violent behavior in the strongest possible terms — it has no place in New York.”
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