An emotionally disturbed man who assaulted multiple court officers was known to be a “problematic presence” for two years at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, with investigators believing the incident to be a “targeted attack,” according to prosecutors.
Jonathan Wohl, 37 entered the courthouse Monday with a handwritten notebook and scraps of paper stating, “Give me liberty or give me death” in large print, as well as other remarks referencing the court system of police, plus the phrase “Protect Rodney Hinton.” Hinton, an Ohio man, is currently charged with fatally mowing down a police officer with a car in May after police killed his son. Those writings are being investigated as a motive of animosity Wohl had toward judges, police and prosecutors, according to Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Taylor Holland.
“Based on the defendant’s actions, his writings and his lack of any other business in the courthouse, there is every reason to believe this is a planned and calculated attack on the court officers who are securing this building,” Holland said.
Wohl was charged with attempted murder, attempted aggravated assault on a police officer and assault. He was held without bail at his arraignment Tuesday afternoon inside the same courthouse where the attack occurred.
“While those charges are both from [Monday’s] attempts, defendant has been a repeated presence in the courthouse over the last two years, and is responsible for multiple other disruptive incidents, including one as recently as January of this year,” Holland said.
Wohl, who had no pending case or business at the courthouse, had a history of interacting with the court officers at Manhattan Criminal Court where the assault occurred, prosecutors said.
“Our court officers perform a vital, profound function. It’s a dangerous job. We’re thankful for the work they do. As you heard in court – the defendant, we allege, as it appears, engaged in targeted activity focused on officers. We will not tolerate that in Manhattan. I’m grateful for the work they do each and every day,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said following the arraignment.
Wohl entered the courthouse around 9:45 a.m. Monday, with a black lunchbox in hand. He wiped rain from his shoes, walked over to the security-check metal detectors, placing his bag on the conveyor at the courthouse lobby at 100 Centre St. When one of the court officers briefly turned his head away from him, Wohl charged at him with a 4-inch, curved-blade, folding knife attached to metal knuckles. He slashed and stabbed the officer with the knuckle knife, causing him to fall backward, cutting him on both the left and right side of his face, prosecutors and sources said.
Surveillance video shows how another officer who also tried to shield himself from the attack was struck once in the chin and neck before Wohl stabbed him five times in the back and neck, prosecutors said.
A third court officer suffered broken ribs when he was slammed into a barrier while trying to stop Wohl’s onslaught. Two other court officers reportedly suffered minor injuries when Wohl tried to slash them with the knife, as well as punching and kicking them.
One court officer — who was wearing a ballistic vest — avoided injuries as he tackled Wohl to the ground. Wohl allegedly tried to stab the officer, who had knife marks on his vest, sources said.
Wohl was finally subdued and arrested after about a dozen court officers converged on him, video of the incident shows.
“The force of defendant’s attack was so great that the first officer sustained a chipped jaw where the tip of the blade impacted his bone… The second officer required stitches to his neck,” Holland said. “Fortunately, all five injured officers have now been released from the hospital.”
At some point during the surprise attack, Wohl allegedly asked cops, “Why didn’t you shoot me?” according to a law enforcement source.
A sixth officer came forward Tuesday, citing a knee injury from the incident, but didn’t go to the hospital for treatment.
Wohl, who worked as a construction worker, was arrested in September 2022 when he staged a one-man protest in the lobby of the Midtown offices of Laborers Local 79, according to Gothamist. Wohl’s arrest led to a recording of controversial statements by NYPD officers at the Midtown South Precinct.
Wohl was undergoing psychological evaluation at Bellevue Hospital on Monday after the assault, sources said. He has 18 prior arrests but has not served any time in state prison.
“This illustrates and highlights what court officers deal with on a daily basis, the dangers of keeping the judges, the employees, the public, safe in our courthouses, we continue to pray for full recovery of our brother officers,” said Stephen Mikos, president of the New York State Court Officers Association.
Originally Published: June 17, 2025 at 5:38 PM EDT
