Man Sought In Manhattan Attacks Against Asian Women
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A search was under way Tuesday for a suspect targeting Asian woman around Manhattan.
As CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported, police said he struck four times – hitting women in the face – and then ran off.
The suspect was seen on surveillance video during the latest incident, which happened Monday afternoon on Mulberry Street in Lower Manhattan, police said.
The victim was a 41-year-old woman who works at the Paragon Two Dry Cleaners. Police said around 4 p.m. Monday, the man put his cellphone to the window of the cleaners with a harassing message in Cantonese.
When the woman went out to confront him, police said, the suspect claimed he hadn't done anything wrong. Then, using his bag that he was seen carrying on surveillance video, he hid a hard object – which he used to slam her in the face, police said.
Sean Connelly and his co-worker recounted the moments they saw the attack, and saw the man running from the dry cleaners.
"He was so nonchalant. I didn't know anything had happened until actually seeing the blood on her face," Connelly told CBS2's Burrell. "By the time she had come out and we recognized something had happened, he was running up the street."
"He just ran out, started jogging with a package in his hand, running and the lady came right behind him yelling and screaming for him to stop," added witness Hanse Hill.
Police said it was the fourth assault against Asian women in the last week.
Detectives believe the same man is responsible for three other attacks against Asian women last week on the Upper East Side, Chinatown and Midtown East. In each incident, police said the victims were hit in the face with a bag containing a hard object.
Police say in one of the incidents, the suspect asked for the woman's phone number, complaining that Asian women don't want to date him, before slamming her in the face with the covered object, Burrell reported.
All of the victims were treated at area hospitals for minor injuries.
Police: New Surveillance Video Of Man Sought In Manhattan Attacks Against Asian Women
Women in the area are now alerting others in their community as residents who know the latest victim pray for her recovery.
"She's very quiet, she does her job and she goes home," said Lower Manhattan resident Karlin Chan.
"Now we're aware," said resident Jessica Lee. "I posted on Facebook so my friend can see it. Hopefully they catch him soon."
"It makes me a little worried when I walk around the street," another woman who works on Mulberry Street told 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck. "I am Asian and we have a large Asian community and everyone should be aware."
Witnesses said the victim on Mulberry Street was the first to call police after the assault. But the suspect had already run off by the time officers arrived.
Authorities are now hoping clearer surveillance images will help police find the suspect. Crime Stoppers is also offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to his arrest, and a "wanted" poster has been circulated.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS, visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
