Jewish Center Vandalism Terrorist Federally Charged, Suspect Wanted to ‘Suicide by Cop’

Albuquerque –

An Albuquerque man is in custody on federal charges for allegedly vandalizing and causing extensive damage to religious properties during two consecutive attacks at two local Jewish facilities.

According to court documents, on June 2, Rex Crofton, 25, targeted two Jewish community facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico, during a series of motivated and calculated attacks. At approximately 4:31 PM, on the 2nd Crofton arrived at Congregation Albert in a silver Mazda sedan. He exited the vehicle and used a tool to shatter the synagogue’s glass entry doors. After “flipping off” the building and shouting an indecipherable statement, he fled the scene.

Roughly eight minutes later, at 4:39 PM, Crofton arrived at the Jewish Community Center (JCC). Surveillance footage captured him running to the front doors and repeatedly striking them with a metal tool appearing to be a crowbar. When JCC security guards approached and pursued him, Crofton threw the tool into his passenger window. A security guard managed to pepper spray Crofton through the window before Crofton sped out of the busy parking lot. The incident forced the JCC to issue an emergency closure, disrupting camp pickup and alarming numerous witnesses.

Following the attacks, Crofton sent threatening text messages to a family friend, boasting, “… I just hit two synagogues in 5 minutes,” and stating he would love to kill any police officers who intervened.

According to an FBI report, investigators interviewed several individuals who stated that Crofton made explicit statements or threats, including: “send the cops my way I’d love to kill all of them,” “I’ll make an example out of all of your little cop homies,” and “again make a police report I’d love to kill your friends.“

On the evening of June 2, the Albuquerque Police Department located Crofton at a residence on Pitt St NE. He surrendered to officers and was taken into custody on June 3.

A subsequent federal search warrant executed on his residence and vehicles uncovered the crowbar-like wrecking bar used in the attack, the clothing he wore, a revolver, high-capacity magazines, various other weapons including a machete and brass knuckles, and a torn Ukrainian flag defaced with a drawn swastika.

Crofton is now charged with damage to religious property. If convicted of the current charge, the defendant faces up to three years in prison.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico, and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.

Court records for the State of New Mexico reveal that Crofton was served with an Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order on June 4. According to an extreme risk protection order court filing, Crofton was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The filing also states that he was suspected of having schizophrenia, though it does not indicate that he received a formal diagnosis. The document further says that Crofton had bipolar disorder, insomnia and anxiety and did not consistently take prescribed medication.

The Extreme Firearm Protection Order states that Crofton expressed a desire for Albuquerque Police Department officers to shoot him or engage in a confrontation with him on the day he was arrested in connection with vandalism at Jewish community centers.

The Extreme Firearm Protection Order also includes allegations that Crofton had previously assaulted relatives, former girlfriends, and vandalizing a neighbor’s car. Court records state that past domestic violence incidents were not reported to law enforcement because of concerns that reporting them could lead to retaliation or further harm if Crofton were released from custody. The order notes concerns, expressed by individuals interviewed by police, that Crofton could carry out a “mass shooting” in the future.

On June 11, a judge ruled that Crofton could be released pending trial. However, federal authorities filed charges against him before he was released from the Metropolitan Detention Center. On June 12, Crofton was transferred out of the MDC and into federal custody.

The federal criminal complaint can be found here: https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nmd.560948/gov.uscourts.nmd.560948.1.0.pdf