New York City police said Wednesday that they arrested a man in connection with the assault on a 65 year old Asian American woman near Times Square.
According to the NYPD, officers charged Brandon, 38, with assault and hate crime offenses. Police had put up wanted posters in midtown Manhattan and offered a $2,500 reward after surveillance video showed the attack on Monday, as the woman was walking to church. Police said a court date for the new charges had not yet been set. The charges are allegations, and he has not been convicted of them.
An NYPD spokesperson said Brandon was released from prison in 2019 after serving 17 years for the 2002 killing of his mother, and that he was on lifetime parole at the time of his arrest.
Police said the attacker kicked the woman in the stomach, pushed her to the ground, stomped on her and shouted anti Asian slurs, and that he told her she did not belong here. Police identified the woman as Vilma, and reports said she was released from the hospital on Tuesday after being treated for serious injuries.
Questions About The Bystanders
Surveillance video showed two employees inside the apartment building where the attack happened watching what was going on without stepping in to help. At one point, one of them was seen closing the building door while the woman was on the ground. The management company for the building said both workers were suspended while it investigates. The workers’ union said the employees immediately asked for help.
Mayor Bill de Blasio called the attack “absolutely disgusting and outrageous” and said it was unacceptable that witnesses did not step in. He urged New Yorkers to make noise, call for help and dial 911 when they see someone being attacked. Mayoral candidate Andrew Yang also criticized the onlookers and said the victim could easily have been his mother.
A Rise In Reported Hate Crimes
NYPD figures showed 33 hate crimes involving Asian victims in New York City so far this year as of Sunday, compared with 11 at the same point last year. Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said the department would expand outreach and patrols in neighborhoods with large Asian populations, including the use of undercover officers.
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Police also noted a separate incident in the same area, where a 65 year old Asian American woman was confronted by a man shouting slurs. A 48 year old man was arrested and charged with menacing in that case, and police said he has not been linked to Monday’s assault.
Baller Alert will continue to follow this story as police and prosecutors share more information.
