A woman has been indicted on multiple charges, including second and third-degree assault as a hate crime, for pepper spraying an Uber driver, aged 45, in an unprovoked incident earlier this year in New York City, according to prosecutors.

Jennifer Guilbeault, 23, was charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count each of second-degree assault as a hate crime, third-degree assault as a hate crime, and second-degree aggravated harassment, as reported by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors asserted that Guilbeault carried out an anti-Muslim attack on the Upper East Side in July when she pepper sprayed an Uber driver.

The district attorney’s office stated that the assault took place around 12:15 a.m. on July 31. The driver was ending a ride for Guilbeault and another passenger in the back of the car.

As the driver began to pray in Arabic after stopping at a red light, prosecutors reported that Guilbeault “lunged toward the driver’s seat, holding a can of pepper spray,” and sprayed him in the face.

The driver experienced pain, burning, and redness from the spray and called 911 shortly after the incident, according to the district attorney’s office. Guilbeault was apprehended at the scene.

WPIX, a television station in New York City, reported in August that Guilbeault had been arraigned on assault charges, including assault as a hate crime, but she denied that her actions were motivated by race.

“As alleged, Jennifer Guilbeault senselessly assaulted a Muslim Uber driver while he was just doing his job,” stated Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Monday. “The victim is a hardworking New Yorker who should not face this kind of hate due to his identity. Everyone is welcome to live and work in Manhattan.”

Pepper spray assault captured on video

The Uber driver, identified as Shohel Mahmud by multiple media sources, told CBS New York and WPIX in August that he felt the incident was racially charged, and he has been working fewer hours since the attack due to safety concerns.

Dashcam footage obtained by local news outlets displayed Guilbeault lunging at Mahmud and spraying him directly in the eyes. Following the spray, Guilbeault grabbed Mahmud’s arm while he attempted to fend her off.

Mahmud was seen unbuckling his seatbelt and attempting to exit the vehicle but returned right away as the car started to move. He then shifted the car into park while another passenger intervened to pull Guilbeault back.

When questioned by the other passenger regarding her motive for attacking the driver, Guilbeault reportedly replied, “he’s brown,” according to the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY).

Nation’s largest Muslim civil rights group condemns the act

CAIR-NY, a chapter of the largest Muslim civil rights organization in the U.S., expressed on Tuesday that it “welcomed” the indictment of Guilbeault.

“We applaud the hate crime charges in this situation and appreciate law enforcement for sending a strong message that those who carry out bias-motivated attacks will face serious repercussions,” stated CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher.

Nasher highlighted the recent increase in anti-Muslim incidents across the nation. CAIR reported documenting 4,951 bias complaints in the first half of this year — a 69% increase from the same period in 2023.

This year, CAIR noted that it received the “highest number of complaints ever recorded in its 30-year existence,” with 8,061 complaints noted in 2023. Almost half were reported in the last three months as violence escalated in Israel and Gaza in October 2023.