Police Friday announced an arrest in the vandalism of a Vietnamese coffee shop in Kansas City, MO.
It’s the third time the Café Cà Phê has been targeted, the latest just hours after Donald Trump was officially declared the winner in the presidential election.
Owner Jackie Nguyen has been an outspoken advocate in the stop Asian hate movement and suspects her business was targeted because its Asian-owned.
“There was no intent to steal, which actually feels more heartbreaking to me than anything,” Nguyen said to the Kansas City Star.
Two earlier incidents at her shop involved a burglary.
Police who have not identified the suspect arrested say they are now investigating whether that person may be connected to other crimes. However, they say they have no evidence this is a hate crime.
“We do not have anything to indicate as such at this point,” said Officer Alayna Gonzalez, a spokesperson with the Kansas City Police Department.
The shop shared photos of the damage on Facebook.
Since the incidents, patrons have donated more than $2,000 to cover the cost of the damage.
“This community is unstoppable, and I’m very, very, very grateful for the community,” Nguyen said. “It’s an exchange. Our community shows up just as much as we show up for them, and we know that, they know that.”
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