NEW YORK (WPIX/CNN) - Police are investigating after a man walked inside a New York cathedral and threatened to kill a nun.
It was all caught on video.
Surveillance video captured the bare-chested man as he entered the Co-Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Prospect Heights Wednesday afternoon.
Mother Maria Amador sat in solitude praying as he snuck up on her. He said , “I don't believe in this, and you don't help the poor."
He demanded she acknowledge him.
She thought about running, but she saw a parishioner near the front of the church and didn't want to leave her alone with the man.
"He said, 'Nobody, she can't help you, and I'm going to kill you. I started to scream, 'Alejandro and please help me, help me,'" Mother Amador said.
The organist was in the loft rehearsing, heard her screams and yelled at the guy. He ran off.
Mother Amador had compassion for the man who committed this unholy act in a sacred place.
"I pray for him, and I forgive him," Mother Amador said.
The monsignor said the irony of Mother Amador being accused of not helping the poor is she headed up a mission helping the poor right now in Virginia.
Even after what happened, the church said the doors will remain open at all hours for people to pray.
Mother Amador became emotional watching the video and reliving what happened.
"Being in that situation. Yes, I got very emotional. In that moment, I think I was very strong. When I looked again at the video, I said, 'Oh my goodness, it was real, and I was in a very dangerous situation," Mother Amador said.
The NYPD is investigating this as a possible hate crime.
Anyone with information should call crime stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
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