A homeless man on lifetime parole for killing his mother has been arrested for a brazen attack on a 65-year-old Asian-American woman that occurred Monday in New York City.
Police say Brandon Elliot, 38, was apprehended in a hotel where he was staying that's being used as a homeless shelter near the site of the attack.
He was charged early-Wednesday with two counts of felony assault as a hate crime, attempted assault as a hate crime, assault and attempted assault.
An especially troubling dimension of the attack on Monday was that it occurred on 43rd Street in broad daylight in front of several witnesses, who did nothing to help. A security guard at a nearby building is seen on security footage closing the door of the building, instead of intervening.
Elliot, who was released from prison in 2019, allegedly kicked the woman to the ground and began stomping on her head while shouting anti-Asian statements before leaving the scene.
The NYPD said that numerous tips led to Elliot's capture. Police were offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest. It's unclear whether the money would be awarded or to whom, CBS News reports.
It was one of two attacks against Asians Monday in the city, during a sharp nationwide rise in hate crimes against Asians.
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