Shirtless man threatens to kill nun in church

NEW YORK (FOX5NY) - Security camera video at a church in Brooklyn showed a nun running for her life Wednesday.

Sister Maria Amador was praying just before 3 p.m. at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Prospect Heights when a shirtless man approached her.

"Another woman was praying as well in the first bench and a stranger came up to me," Sister Amador said. "He said 'I don't believe in this because you don't help the poor'."

She remained silent but what he said next caused her to scream and run.

"He said, 'She can't help you and I'm going to kill you,'" she said.

Fortunately, the music director was practicing on the organ and heard the commotion.

Alejandro Zuleta said he heard the sister screaming that man was going to kill her so he shouted at the man that needed to leave.

Fox 5 News was there as NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force detectives interviewed the sister and canvassed the neighborhood. Police are looking into the incident as a possible hate crime because of the nun's faith and when the suspect said "you" he meant the Catholic Church.

As frightened as she is, Sister Amador hopes the church doors will continue to remain open as much as her heart.

"I say, 'I forgive you and you are my brother'," Sister Amador said of the man who threatened her.

The NYPD is asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS or nypdcrimestoppers.com.