Leiby Kletzky
Photo: NYC Police
Thousands attend funeral of Brooklyn Hassidic boy
Brooklyn Hassidic community distraught by brutal murder of Leiby Kletzky
Thousands of mourners attended the funeral of 8-year-old Hasidic boy Leiby Kletzky Thursday.
Kletzky went missing on Wednesday. He was abducted and killed as he walked home from camp.
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The New York Police arrested 35-year-old Levi Aron in connection with the murder. It is believed that he strangled the boy to death before dismembering his body.
According to the New York Times, dozens of police officers and members of a local security patrol group, the "Shomrim," kept the order at the funeral, which was held just hours after the family learned that their search for Leiby, had come to a tragic end.
(Photo: Reuters)
It was estimated that nearly to 8,000 people were in attendance.
The service was held almost entirely in Yiddish. The boy's father, school principal and several rabbis spoke, repeatedly breaking down in tears.
They extolled the boy’s good qualities, and reminded the community to be careful, urging the adults to protect their children.
Kletzky's disappearance sparked a massive manhunt, with civilian, police and FBI teams out looking for the boy.
The suspect was arrested after surveillance footage taken along the route the boy took on his way home showed him in Aron's company.
He now faces charges of second degree murder.
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