USPS Mail Carrier Confronts New Felony Charge After Shoving Four-Year-Old Boy
A United States Postal Service mail carrier is now confronting a serious felony charge following a disturbing incident where he allegedly shoved a four-year-old Jewish boy to the pavement. The attack, which was captured on surveillance camera, has sparked outrage and a swift police response in the community of Monsey, New York.
Details of the Disturbing Confrontation
The unsettling event unfolded on Thursday evening in Monsey, located within Rockland County approximately thirty miles north of New York City. Surveillance footage clearly shows the young child approaching a parked USPS mail truck. Without any apparent warning, the mail carrier, identified as Gabriel Stan, aged thirty-nine and residing in Stony Point, New York, abruptly turned around and forcefully pushed the little boy backwards.
The child fell onto his back on the pavement. The video then depicts the boy scrambling to his feet moments later, picking up his yarmulke—a traditional Jewish head covering—before walking away from the scene. Witness accounts and the footage suggest the postal worker had been yelling at children in the area prior to turning his attention specifically to this four-year-old boy, when the encounter suddenly turned physical.
Escalating Legal Charges for the Postal Worker
Authorities moved quickly, identifying and arresting the suspect the following day. Initially, the Ramapo Police Department charged Gabriel Stan with two misdemeanors: endangering the welfare of a child and attempted assault in the third degree. However, on Friday, prosecutors added a more severe felony charge of second-degree attempted assault.
The Ramapo Police Department clarified that this new felony charge was applied specifically due to the victim's age being under seven years old. Following his arrest, Stan was released and is expected to appear in court at a later date. The Daily Mail has reached out to Stan for comment, but no statement has been provided.
Community and Official Reactions to the Attack
The incident, first reported by local outlet The Monsey Scoop, has deeply alarmed the Monsey community, which is known for its large Hasidic and Orthodox Jewish population. Notably, last year, the town of Ramapo—which encompasses Monsey—was named the safest place to live in America, adding a layer of shock to this violent event.
Local officials reacted with immediate condemnation. Ramapo Town Supervisor Michael Specht confirmed he had personally reviewed the footage, stating on social media platform X: "I have viewed the video depicting an incident involving a physical attack on a small child. The content of this video is very disturbing. Ramapo Police have treated this matter with extreme seriousness and have now arrested the suspect."
New York State Assemblyman Aron Wieder was unequivocal in his response, declaring: "The attack on a four-year-old in Monsey is appalling and deeply troubling, never acceptable under any circumstances," while thanking local officials and police for their rapid response. State Senator Bill Weber echoed this anger, noting he had been inundated with concern from constituents and asserting that the suspect "must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Authorities have not yet provided an explanation for what motivated the postal worker to target the young child. The investigation remains ongoing as the community grapples with this violent act in a place recently celebrated for its safety.
