Zeldin was attacked at a campaign event by a man with a sharp object.

Zeldin was uninjured and no other injuries were reported.

The man grabbed Zeldin's arm before they fell to the ground.

The man can be heard saying "You're done" in the assault that took place at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post.

The suspect was identified by the sheriff's office.

NY GOP Candidate for Governor Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-NY, top right, is protected as others apprehend a man who attacked Zeldin on Thursday. (Courtesy Jeff Nichols)
NY GOP Candidate for Governor Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-NY, top right, is protected as others apprehend a man who attacked Zeldin on Thursday. (Courtesy Jeff Nichols)

The attack ended after Zeldin's campaign members and others in the audience restrained the suspect.

The man appeared to have something in his hand. The sheriff's office statement didn't say what kind of weapon it was, but a witness who helped to tackle the suspect said it was a plastic keychain in the shape of a cat.

I was not able to see the weapon at first. "I thought the guy was going up on stage to give him a hug," said Joe Chenelly, who had been standing at the side of the platform. It looked like a razor blade to me.

A group of people rushed to Zeldin's aid when he appeared to be violent.

The sheriff's office said that Jakubonis was charged with attempted assault in the second degree and was released on his own recognizance.

Zeldin wrote that someone tried to stab him on stage, but he was able to grab his wrist and stop him.

Mike Cialini, commander of VFW Post 8490, said in an interview that the man was subdued with zip ties and taken into custody by police.

There is no reason, no nothing. He made noises after he was subdued. According to Cialini, they were just weird noises.

The man told Chenelly he was an Iraq War veteran after he was restrained. The man in the videos is wearing a hat.

Chenelly, the national director of the nonprofit organization AMVETS, said that the suspect was incoherent and had a mental health issue.

Chenelly said they were reaching out to him in case he needed help.

It was not clear if he had an attorney.

There is no known motive, the suspect is a veteran, and investigators are looking into whether he has a history of alcohol abuse and anxiety.

Zeldin told reporters that his guard was down when he saw the man's hat, but then he saw a weapon in his hand.

"My first thought was to grab onto his wrist and hold it because there were so many people around that I would have expected to be helped," Zeldin said. That is what happened.

Zeldin said that his running mate for lieutenant governor was among several people who joined the fight.

Zeldin said that there were a lot of people who acted smart.

Zeldin has argued that changes to the criminal justice system in New York have led to an increase in violence.

The attacker on stage was immediately released due to the fact that he was charged with a felony.

New York GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy said Zeldin was targeted in a violent attack at a campaign stop in Monroe County, and he praised the actions of bystanders who subdued the man.

Hochul was relieved that Zeldin was not hurt and the suspect was in custody.

She said that it has no place in New York.

Zeldin was a state senator and was elected to congress.

He won the Republican primary for New York governor in June, defeating a trio of opponents, including the son of Rudy Giuliani. Zeldin will face Hochul in the governor's race.

The VFW Post 8495 is a political organization, according to Cialini.