Photos from family and NYPD
Police in New York this morning announced an arrest in a brutal beating of a Chinese American man that left him in a medically-induced coma.
CBS NY reports that Aaron Powell, 49, faces two counts of felony assault.
Authorities told ABC7 that witnesses stepped forward to help identify Powell as the man who stomped on the head of Yao Pan Ma, 61, in an unprovoked attack.
“We are completely in shock — terrified and scared and frustrated,” said the victim’s niece to ABC7. “My uncle is a very quiet person, very hardworking. He’s not the person to cause trouble.”
News 12 reports police made the arrest at about 2:45 this morning.
Police have yet to determine if they will seek hate crime charges, but overall hate crimes are up 45 percent against Asian Americans in the city.
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