An Iraq war veteran warned other Asian Americans about a group that attacked him outside a grocery store in Chicago without an apparent reason, reports CBS Chicago.
Kevin Qin describes the assault which left him with a concussion as a racially motivated hate crime.
He says the group of seven to 10 men came out of nowhere.
“I was just trying to get in the store, minding my own business, and next thing I know, all hell broke loose,” he said to ABC7 News.
A bystander came to his help and managed to interrupt the attack long enough for Qin to get away and call police.
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Authorities say they have no motivation for the incident, despite Qin’s belief it was a hate crime.
He says they yelled “Yo, this Chinese (expletive) is like trying to gang up on me or something,” according to CBS Chicago.
Community activist Dr. Kim Tee expressed disbelief at what happened.
“He survived the Iraq War but almost got killed here at his home right here in Chicago,” said Tee to ABC7.
The attack happened Tuesday night. Kim says he is still experiencing headaches, nausea, and injuries to his wrist, elbow and knee.
“I just remember somebody pulling my top and dragging me all the way down the floor, and that’s when I hit my head on the side,” he said, “and I presume that’s when I kind of lost consciousness.”
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