New York governor candidate's knife attacker released from jail hours after arrest

The suspect who tried to stab a Republican congressman running for New York governor on Thursday evening was released hours later on his own recognizance, despite being charged with a felony.

Candidate Lee Zeldin was addressing a crowd at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8495, near Rochester, N.Y., around 8:00 p.m. when a disgruntled man in a war veteran hat with a double-bladed key chain in his right hand walked on stage and grabbed his arm.

Members of Zeldin’s staff and the audience helped rescue him in a brief scuffle and restrained the assailant with zip-ties pulled from campaign signs.

A photo of the weapon the suspect used in Monroe County to attack Lee Zeldin earlier this evening. Appears to have holes for gripping purposes and long sharp point. #LeeZeldin pic.twitter.com/iNjxCjWtr4

— Metropolitan Republican Club (@metgopclub) July 22, 2022

Police identified the suspect as David Jakubonis, a 43-year-old local and Iraq War veteran. Their report said that Jakubonis had “a weapon in his hand, swung it towards Zeldin’s neck, and told him, ‘You’re done.’”

Supporters of Zeldin were alarmed to learn the man had been charged with second-degree attempted assault, a felony, but was released on his own recognizance.

Zeldin, who is running as a tough-on-crime candidate against Gov. Kathy Hochul, the Democratic incumbent, predicted as much in a tweet after the attack where he praised bystanders and the police for their heroic response.

“His words as he tried to stab me a few hours ago were ‘you’re done,’ but several attendees, including [my running mate, Alison Esposito], quickly jumped into action & tackled the guy,” he posted at 1:30 a.m. on Friday.

“Law enforcement was on the scene within minutes.”

“The attacker will likely be instantly released under NY’s laws.”

His words as he tried to stab me a few hours ago were “you’re done”, but several attendees, including @EspositoforNY, quickly jumped into action & tackled the guy.

Law enforcement was on the scene within minutes.

The attacker will likely be instantly released under NY’s laws. pic.twitter.com/wZEyIyrjFe

— Lee Zeldin (@leezeldin) July 22, 2022

“This guy tried to stab a man running for Governor and is back on the streets?!?” tweeted Desi Cuellar, a Cuban American GOP candidate running against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) in Queens.

“New York has truly become a sick place run by criminals!”

One man who helped take down Jakubonis was Joe Chenelly, a fellow veteran and National Executive Director of American Veterans. After he learned the suspect had served in Iraq, Chenelly promised to get him help.

“When he said he served in Iraq, I got down hands on my knees and said, ‘You know, we’re going to get through whatever you’ve done here tonight,’ and told him, ‘You’re going to get better and focus on that,’ and said, ‘You can contact me after this thing is done,’” Chenelly told WROC.