DA: Man Faces Hate Crime Charges After Targeting Asian Women In Brooklyn Robberies
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A 20-year-old man faces several charges, including robbery as a hate crime, after he allegedly targeted six women of Chinese descent in Brooklyn, authorities said.
Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson announced a 36-count indictment against Manhattan resident Manuel Israel on Tuesday.
Israel was arrested after prosecutors said he tried to rob a 23-year-old woman of Chinese descent near 55th Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway in Borough Park around 12:20 a.m. on April 6.
Israel allegedly walked up behind the woman and repeatedly pulled on her purse, causing her to fall to the ground. He then stood over the victim and said, "Give me all of your money," Thompson said.
A witness called 911 after seeing Israel with his arm around the victim's neck, prosecutors said.
Police caught Israel approximately 20 minutes later, about six blocks from the scene.
Investigators determined Israel robbed five other women of Chinese descent in Borough Park between March 21 and April 4, Thompson said.
The victims were 21 to 43 years old. Three of them were injured.
Israel perceived the women to be vulnerable to attack because of their ethnicity, investigators 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 said in a statement.
Israel faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top charge.
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
