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Manhattan Man Hit With Hate Crime Charges For Robberies Targeting Chinese Women
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 22, 2015
Modified Apr 22, 2015
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By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 22, 2015
Modified Apr 22, 2015
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A 20-year-old Manhattan resident is accused of robbing or trying to rob six Chinese women in Brooklyn, and now faces robbery as a hate crime charges. Brooklyn DA Ken Thompson said, "This defendant allegedly targeted Asian women walking alone because he believed he could overpower them. Such cowardly attacks - whether based on a person’s race, gender, sexuality or ethnicity, destroy the fabric of who we are as a community and won’t be tolerated."
Thompson's office shared details about the investigation into the five robberies and one attempted robbery, which all happened in Borough Park:
The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on April 6, 2015, at approximately 12:20 a.m., in the vicinity of 55th Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway, a 23-year-old woman of Chinese descent was walking alone when the defendant allegedly approached her from behind and repeatedly pulled on her purse, causing her to fall to the ground. He then allegedly stood over her and stated: “Give me all of your money.”
The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, a bystander happened upon the alleged attempted robbery and saw the defendant with his arm around the victim’s neck in an apparent struggle and called 911. Police immediately responded to the scene and apprehended Israel about 20 minutes later approximately six blocks from the scene.
Upon further investigation, the defendant was charged with five additional robberies of women of Chinese descent, ages 21 to 43, between March 21st and April 4, 2015, all in the vicinity of Fort Hamilton Parkway between 55th and 71st Streets. In each of the incidents, the defendant allegedly approached the victims from behind and pulled on their handbags, causing them to fall to the ground. It is alleged that he then grabbed the victims’ handbags and fled. Three of the victims suffered injuries, including lacerations, bruising and pain. The investigation revealed that Israel selected women of Chinese descent because he perceived them to be vulnerable to attack.
Israel was named in a 36-count indictment and is being held on $50,000 bail.
Tagged
borough park
brooklyn
hate crime
Manuel Israel
robbery as a hate crime
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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