Overview
- Skiboky Stora was found guilty of assaulting, stalking and harassing strangers in incidents prosecutors said targeted women, white people and a Jewish couple.
- The convictions include two counts of assault in the third degree as hate crimes and one count of stalking in the third degree as a hate crime, plus aggravated harassment and attempted assault.
- Prosecutors linked four episodes from September 2023 to March 2024 in Chelsea and Union Square, citing surveillance footage and Stora’s own recordings.
- One victim, TikTok influencer Halley Kate McGookin, testified that she was punched in the face on March 25, 2024, a video of which drew broad public attention.
- Stora represented himself during the weeks-long bench trial, was remanded into custody after the verdict, and the Manhattan D.A. framed the case as an enforcement of hate-crime laws.