Jennifer Guilbeault, a 23-year-old Manhattan resident, is facing hate crime charges for an alleged attack on Uber driver Shohel Mahmud on July 31, 2024. The incident occurred when Mahmud, a 45-year-old Muslim man, reportedly began to pray quietly in Arabic while stopped at a traffic light on the Upper East Side. Guilbeault allegedly lunged from the backseat, grabbed him, and sprayed his face with pepper spray. Prosecutors have indicted Guilbeault on several hate crime charges, but she pleaded not guilty at the State Supreme Court in Manhattan.
Routine Ride Turns Violent
Mahmud, an experienced Uber driver, said he picked up Guilbeault and another woman around midnight near the West Side of Manhattan. He described the ride as uneventful until they approached a red light at 65th Street and Lexington Avenue. While he prayed quietly in Arabic, Guilbeault allegedly attacked without provocation, lunging forward and dousing his face with pepper spray. Surveillance footage reportedly captured the assault and revealed that when questioned by her friend, Guilbeault responded, “He’s brown,” as stated in court documents.
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Driver’s Reaction
Mahmud said he initially feared his passengers were trying to hijack the vehicle. Disoriented and in pain, he attempted to exit but realized he was still belted in as the car began drifting into traffic. He quickly climbed back inside to park the car safely. Following the attack, Mahmud suffered injuries to his shoulder, neck, and back, and reported temporary vision impairment in his right eye. He later called 911, leading to Guilbeault’s arrest at the scene.
Hate Crime Charges and Possible Sentencing
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has charged Guilbeault with multiple offenses, including second- and third-degree assault as a hate crime, as well as aggravated harassment. Bragg condemned the incident, emphasizing that Mahmud, a “hardworking New Yorker,” should not face discrimination due to his identity. If convicted of second-degree assault as a hate crime, Guilbeault could receive up to 15 years in prison. The charges in her indictment, however, remain allegations, and she is scheduled to return to court in January for further proceedings.
Statement from Prosecutors
District Attorney Bragg highlighted the need to address such bias-motivated attacks, citing this case as an example of how his office’s Hate Crimes Unit aims to investigate and prosecute instances of hate-based violence in New York. The unit, in collaboration with the NYPD’s 19th Precinct, is handling the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Phillip Klindt and Julia Hooks, along with Hate Crimes Investigative Analyst Julie Anne Lim.
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In the wake of this incident, concerns about safety in rideshare vehicles have resurfaced. Uber’s last safety report, published in 2022, claimed that “99.9% of Uber trips ended without any safety-related issue,” but did not include incidents like this one in its reporting metrics. Rideshare safety advocates argue that the platform should provide more recent and comprehensive data to address broader safety issues.