Coon arrest in brutal Manhattan attack on Asian woman heading to church

[The Bobster]

https://nypost.com/2021/03/30/staff-that-watched-attack-on-asian-woman-in-midtown-suspended/

Building staff suspended for failing to help Asian woman during brutal NYC attack
By Lorena Mongelli and Amanda Woods
March 30, 2021 | 9:20am | Updated

The building staff that witnessed, but did nothing to help an Asian woman who was the victim of a hate-fueled, broad-daylight beatdown in Midtown have been suspended, the management company announced.

The suspect punched and kicked the 65-year-old victim in front of an apartment building at 360 West 43 Street around 11:40 a.m. Monday, yelling “F–k you, you don’t belong here ,” according to cops and police sources.

Video footage of the assault provided by police shows the suspect kicking the victim to the ground — then stomping her on the head several times as she was down on the sidewalk.

The clip shows several men from the building standing near the door — feet from where the attack unfolded — without lifting a finger to help.

The Brodsky Organization, which manages the building, said in a statement posted to Instagram that it “condemns all forms of discrimination, racism, xenophobia and violence against the Asian-American community.”

The suspect kicked the victim to the ground and stomped on her head.
DCPI


“The staff who witnessed the attack have been suspended pending an investigation in conjunction with their union,” the statement said. “The Brodsky Organization is also working to identify a third-party delivery vendor present during the incident so that appropriate action can be taken.”

The suspect was still on the loose Tuesday morning.

 

[The Bobster]

Re: Building staff suspended for failing to help Asian woman during brutal NYC attack

https://nypost.com/2021/03/30/suspe...an-may-have-pulled-knife-in-separate-dispute/

Suspect in brutal attack on Asian woman may have pulled knife in separate dispute
By Lorena Mongelli
March 30, 2021 | 5:59pm | Updated

The race-hating suspect caught on video brutally beating an Asian woman on a Midtown street may be a local cook who pulled a steak knife on a guy right after the horrific attack, a witness claimed Tuesday.

Martin Todd, who works maintenance for a nearby building on West 43rd Street in Manhattan, said he was having lunch in his car between 11:30 a.m. and noon Monday when he saw the confrontation with the weapon.

“I saw the same guy … arguing with another guy,’’ Todd said — referring to the man who beat a 65-year-old Asian woman on West 43rd Street near Ninth Avenue around 11:40 a.m.

“He was a cook or something, that’s what it looked like,” Todd said of the suspect. “He had a red apron on, like a chef’s apron.’’

The men cursed at each other — then the suspect “pulled out a knife,” Todd said.

“It looked like a steak knife. … The other guy backed up, and the [suspect] walked up the block,’’ the witness said.

Todd said the dispute occurred around “11:45, 11:50” and that the victim in that case was black.

He said he believes the victim may have been trying to confront the suspect over the attack on the Asian woman.

Todd said it appeared that the suspect is the same man in both incidents because they each had a distinct red piece of clothing on them.

In surveillance footage from the anti-Asian attack, a long, brightly colored red cloth hangs from around the man’s neck as he attacks the woman, while later photos released by cops show a bright red cloth sticking out of his jacket.

“I think it’s the same guy because I remember that red apron,’’ Todd said. “Once I saw that red apron … I said, ‘That’s the same guy.’ I just didn’t see him attack that lady.”

 

[voiceofreason]

https://abc7ny.com/nyc-asian-attack-brandon-elliot-arrest-stop-hate/10461853/

Arrest in brutal Manhattan attack on Asian woman heading to church

Wednesday, March 31, 2021 3:36AM

MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- Police have made an arrest in the brutal attack, caught on camera, on a 65-year-old Asian American woman who was on her way to church in Midtown Manhattan.

38-year-old Brandon Elliot was taken into custody Tuesday night.

Investigators say Elliot is the man seen punching and kicking the victim in a video that has made national headlines.

Elliot was identified by residents as a local homeless person, and multiple Crimestoppers tips directed police to a hotel serving as a homeless shelter on West 40th Street.

Police spent the day yesterday watching the hotel and neighborhood and took Elliot into custody last night.

He was charged with assault and attempted assault as a hate crime and will be arraigned later today.

Elliot has a long police record. He was arrested in July 2002 for fatally stabbing his mother when he was 19 in the Bronx.

After serving 17 years in state prison, he was released on lifetime parole in November 2019.

The unprovoked attack happened just before noon Monday in front of 360 West 43rd Street in Midtown.

Authorities say the victim was kicked and fell to the ground as the suspect made anti-Asian statements toward her.

He then repeatedly struck her while she was on the ground, saying "(Expletive) you. You don't belong here."

BRANDON ELLIOT
Custody Record
Age 38
Gender Male
Race Black
NY: New York State Department of Corrections
ID Number 03A2***
Custody Status Community Supervision
Custody Detail Paroled

 

[The Bobster]

https://nypost.com/2021/03/31/man-busted-for-attack-on-asian-woman-was-on-parole-for-killing-mom/

Man busted for Midtown attack on Asian woman was on parole for killing his mom
By Joe Marino, Amanda Woods and Lia Eustachewich
March 31, 2021 | 7:15am | Updated

The man busted for the hate-fueled attack on an Asian woman in Midtown was out on parole for killing his own mother back in 2002, authorities said Wednesday.

Brandon Elliot, 38, who lives in a nearby hotel that serves as a homeless shelter, was arrested early Wednesday and hit with a number of charges, including assault as a hate crime and attempted assault as a hate crime, police said.

He was caught on video mercilessly punching and kicking the 65-year-old victim in front of an apartment building at 360 West 43rd Street around 11:40 a.m. Monday, yelling “F–k you, you don’t belong here ,” according to cops and police sources.

In April 2002, Elliot was charged with murder for using a kitchen knife to stab his mother, Bridget Johnson in the chest three times in their East 224th Street home in the Bronx, according to previous reports.

The deadly attack took place in front of Elliot’s 5-year-old sister, sources told The Post. It’s unclear what led to the slaying.

Johnson, 42, died a couple of days later.

Elliot was convicted of murder and sentenced to 15 years-to-life in prison.

He was denied parole twice — first at a February 2017 hearing and again in December 2018, according to a state Department of Corrections official.

But the following year, he was approved for release in September and sprung on lifetime parole two months later.

The Bronx District Attorney’s Office didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking more details on the murder case.

Elliot’s rap sheet also includes an arrest for allegedly robbing his mother in July 2000, sources said. The pair had gotten into a squabble over money — when he allegedly yanked jewelry from her neck and choked her, the sources added.

The broad daylight beatdown on Monday stoked outrage after the surveillance footage showed witnesses — including building workers — doing nothing to intervene.

One of the building employees even appears to shut the door to the building as the attacker flees.

The victim, Vilma Kari, was on her way to church when, unprovoked, Elliot allegedly kicked her in the stomach, sending her flying to the ground and stomped on her head several times as she lay on the sidewalk.

He shouted anti-Asian slurs at her and sneered, “You don’t belong here” before walking away.

Staff members at 360 West 43rd Street were suspended over their apparent inaction.

Kari suffered a broken pelvis and was taken to the hospital. She was released the next day.

Kari is Filipino American, according to Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez.

Elliot is expected to be arraigned in Manhattan criminal court sometime on Wednesday.

A resident at the Four Points by Sheraton — the West 40th Street homeless shelter where Elliot was staying during the alleged attack — said he knew the brute well after spending time with him at another shelter.

“He told me he was [a] diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic,” the man, who declined to give his name, told The Post. “He’s quiet. He doesn’t talk much. He is really paranoid. He has mental issues.”

Elliot’s latest bust comes in the wake of a surge of attacks against Asian victims in New York City and elsewhere.

The NYPD has recorded a 1,300-percent increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea tweeted the news of Elliot’s arrest.

“Great work by your @NYPDDetectives, identifying & apprehending the assailant, all within 48 hrs — always seeking justice for victims,” he wrote.
Brandon Elliot was released on parole in November of 2019, state corrections records show.Brandon Elliot was released on parole in November of 2019, state corrections records show.Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images

During an appearance Wednesday morning on PIX 11, the top cop was asked whether Elliot should’ve been out on parole — a question he deferred to the parole board.

“When you’re releasing people from prison and you’re putting them in homeless shelters, you’re asking for trouble,” he said.

“There’s got to be a safety net and there’s got to be resources for them. “It just never should’ve happened.”

News of Elliot’s release on parole prompted city union heads, including Detectives’ Endowment Association President Paul DiGiacomo, to blame local officials.

“When New York politicians and their parole board think it’s a good idea to release a murderer who killed his mother — they certainly can’t pretend to be surprised he brutally attacked a woman in Midtown,” he said. “It’s about time the City Council, State Assembly, and Governor be held accountable for their irresponsible laws and decisions. New Yorkers are clearly not safe because of them. They need to fix what they broke.”

Lieutenants Benevolent Association President Lou Turco added: “You can’t make it up. Do we need any more proof that the failed policies of our elected officials are leading to more New Yorkers being injured and killed? When are we going to hold our elected leaders accountable? Reimagine elected officials.”

 

[The Bobster]

https://nypost.com/2021/03/31/man-accused-of-midtown-hate-attack-ordered-held-without-bail/

Man accused of Midtown hate attack ordered held without bail
By Alex Taylor and Gabrielle Fonrouge
March 31, 2021 | 9:13pm | Updated

The assailant accused of beating an Asian woman to the ground and kicking her in the head while onlookers did nothing was remanded Wednesday night at his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court.

Brandon Elliot, 38, was charged with two counts of second-degree assault as a hate crime and one count of attempted assault in the first degree as a hate crime in an attack prosecutors called “heinous and unprovoked” as they requested he stay behind bars.

“At about 11:40 a.m. Monday morning, the victim was on her way to church when the defendant approached her on the street, cursed at her, told her she didn’t belong here, called her an Asian something … and kicked her in the chest, knocking her to the ground and proceeded to stomp on her head,” Assistant District Attorney Courtney Razner told Judge Paul McDonnell.

“The victim was taken to the hospital for a fracture to the pelvis and contusions to the head and body. She was hospitalized for over a day.”

Elliot allegedly sneered, “f—k you, you don’t belong here, you Asian,” as he mercilessly beat her on the Midtown sidewalk, prosecutors said.

A public defender for Elliot said nothing in response during the short, five-minute arraignment, aside from confirming they planned to reserve their bail application.

Elliot, who attended the arraignment via video conference, answered “yes” to a few of McDonnell’s questions but remained silent otherwise. He’s due back in court on April 5.

“Mr. Elliot is accused of brutally shoving, kicking, and stomping a 65-year-old mother to the ground after telling her that she didn’t belong here,” outgoing District Attorney Cyrus Vance said in a prepared statement.

“Let me be clear: this brave woman belongs here. Asian-American New Yorkers belong here. Everyone belongs here. Attacks against Asian-American New Yorkers are attacks against all New Yorkers, and my Office will continue to stand against hate in all its forms.”

Elliot, who’s been living at a Midtown hotel that doubles as a homeless shelter, spent nearly two decades at an upstate prison before Monday’s attack. He was found guilty of murder for killing his mother with a kitchen knife in front of his five-year-old sister in their Bronx home in 2002 when he was 19-years-old.

The convicted murderer was sentenced to 15 years to life behind bars, but was released on lifetime parole in 2019, a state Department of Corrections official said previously.

Video of his attack against the woman went viral and sowed nationwide outrage because even though witnesses saw what he was doing, no one stepped in to help the victim.

Early Wednesday morning, Elliot was arrested by the NYPD.

 

[The Bobster]

Man accused of stomping Asian woman told NY parole board he loved his mom — after killing her

https://nypost.com/2021/05/07/man-a...ole-board-he-loved-his-mom-after-killing-her/

Man accused of stomping Asian woman told NY parole board he loved his mom — after killing her
By Tina Moore and Ben Feuerherd
May 7, 2021 | 6:04pm | Updated

Brandon Elliot, 38, had been locked up for killing his mother in 2002 but was released on parole before allegedly committing a viscous hate crime in March 2021. DCPI


The alleged fiend accused of stomping on an Asian woman’s head in a Midtown hate attack previously told a New York parole board that he had an excellent relationship with his mother and “loved” her — despite knifing her to death years earlier.

Brandon Elliot, 38, had been locked up for killing his mother in 2002 and denied parole twice but was then granted release by the board in 2019.

In a interview with the board that year, Elliot insisted he and his mother had a loving relationship before he flew into a rage during a fight and stabbed her to death in The Bronx.

“I had an excellent relationship. She was a hard-working parent. She worked hard, she worked for the welfare department. She raised me, she took care of me, and I loved her,” Elliot told the board, according to a partially redacted transcript reviewed by The Post.

Elliot added that he regretted the slaying and was reminded of it on a daily basis.

“I would take it back, you know, I loved my mom,” he said, according to the transcript.

The convicted killer said he knifed his mother three times in the chest after the two got into a fight on a hot day.

“It was a horrible day, one I can barely remember. It was hot in New York City at that time. … I said something, she said some bad words, and it resulted, led up to her death,” he told the parole board.

Soon after the interview, the parole board deemed Elliot fit to re-enter society, and he was cut loose from prison.

While living in a Manhattan homeless shelter in March of this year, Elliot drew national outrage when he was allegedly captured on video mercilessly punching and kicking his 65-year-old Asian victim in front of an apartment building on West 43rd Street.

“F–k you, you don’t belong here!” he allegedly screamed at the woman.

Elliot is back behind bars for the hate attack after being denied bail.

He was hit with two counts of second-degree assault as a hate crime and one count of attempted assault in the first degree as a hate crime for the beating.