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Suspect In Hammer Attack Murder Was 'Rambling,' 'Saying Psycho Stuff About Space Aliens'
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 17, 2019
Modified Jan 17, 2019
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 17, 2019
Modified Jan 17, 2019
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The man accused of using a hammer to attack three employees, killing one, at a Brooklyn restaurant on Tuesday night has been charged with murder. Arthur Martunovich, 34, was also charged with two counts of attempted murder and three counts of criminal possession of a weapon. He was allegedly motivated after watching movies where Chinese women are mistreated by Chinese men.
Martunovich is accused of going into the Seaport Buffet, on Emmons Avenue in Sheepshead Bay, and striking three employees—owner Kheong Ng-Thang, 60; manager Tsz Mat Pung, 50; and chef Fufai Pun, 30 around 5 p.m. According to NBC New York, police are looking into whether the attack "could have been connected to the suspect's self-professed affinity for Chinese movies that denigrate Asian women, a law enforcement source said... A source said Wednesday that the suspect, 34-year-old Arthur Martunovich, first encountered Latino workers inside the Sheepshead Bay restaurant on Emmons Avenue and allegedly told them, 'I am not here for you.'"
The three victims were taken to the hospital, where Pun was pronounced dead. Both Pung and Ng-Thang are in critical condition, and Ng-Thang is reportedly brain dead.
Martunovich, who lives a few blocks from the restaurant, allegedly fled after the attack, but officers found him a few blocks away and took him into custody. A police source tells the Daily News that Martunovich assaulted an officer who escorted him to the restroom after his arrest, and that multiple officers sustained injuries while trying to restrain him.
During his interrogation, he was "rambling" and "was saying psycho stuff about space aliens," a source told the Post. Another said he claimed "voices" in his head commanded him to attack.
Martunovich, who has been given psychiatric evaluations, works in construction. A friend told the News he had spoken to him a few weeks ago, and at that time he "sounded pretty cheerful and seemed to be happy with life... He never mentioned being unhappy with anything. He was just his regular, friendly self."
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arthur martunovich
brooklyn
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sheepshead bay
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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