An elderly Asian New Yorker is in critical condition after having his head stomped on Friday night in an apparent hate crime.
At 8:20pm a passing bus driver called 911 after seeing the man unconscious and laying on the street. First responders arrived and the man was taken to hospital and remains in critical condition as of Saturday morning.
TW: 61-year-old Asian man in critical condition after he was struck in the back, knocked down, head stomped on repeatedly. 3rd Ave & E 125 St in East Harlem Friday 8:20pm. Bus driver called police. @NYPDHateCrimes investigating. #StopAsianHate pic.twitter.com/yX3s9wpRVf
— CeFaan Kim (@CeFaanKim) April 24, 2021
The NYPD Hate Crime Task Force is investigating the incident and they have not stated whether or not the man was targeted because of his race. The victim did not have any identification but is believed to be in his 60s.
The victim was pushing a shopping cart full of recyclable materials when the attacker struck him in the back, knocking him to the ground where he continued the attack. In the video, the attacker can be seen stomping directly on the mans head at least 6 times causing traumatic injuries to the victim.
After the attack the perpetrator fled the area according to NYPD surveillance cameras. The suspect continues to be at large as police continue their investigation into the attack. The police are seeking the public's assistance in identifying the suspect in the beating.
NYC: help your @NYPDDetectives find the person responsible for this brutal attack ?? ??800-577-TIPS https://t.co/UKd4V2K0sE
— Commissioner Shea (@NYPDShea) April 24, 2021
This attack comes as the number of hate crimes against Asians continue to rise across the United States. The Senate passed a bi-partisan bill Thursday in an attempt to curb the problem by increasing federal help to local authorities dealing with hate crimes related to COVID-19.
New York has been the setting of many of these hate crimes since the COVID-19 pandemic started. The attack of an elderly Asian woman outside of her apartment building by Brandon Elliot, 38, made national news in March as police sought to identify the man who committed the brutal beating.