Elderly Filipina in New York brutally attacked over 125 times by man in her building because she was Asian
Warning: This story includes an account of graphic violence.
A 67-year-old Filipino woman living in Yonkers, New York fell victim to a hate crime on March 11, after she was brutally beaten by her 42-year-old neighbor as she was coming home.
According to surveillance footage from the Yonkers Police Department, the unnamed elderly Filipina was returning to her building when the perpetrator, a certain Tammel Esco, shouted anti-hate slurs at her, calling her an "Asian b*tch."
She ignored him and proceeded to her home, but as she entered the vestibule of the building, the suspect went inside and punched her in the head.
With the Filipina knocked down, Esco continued to beat her up, punching her 125 times, kicking her seven times, and spitting on her twice.
Yonkers Police found the victim bleeding while Esco was in front of the location, reportedly screaming at passersby when he was taken into custody. He is now being held without bail.
According to the report, the elderly Filipina suffered multiple contusions and lacerations to her head and face, facial bone fractures, and bleeding on the brain. She is currently recovering in a hospital, and listed as being in a stable condition.
"We're gonna file this as a hate crime, and we're charging attempted murder based on the number of strikes and the length of the attack," Yonkers Police Commissioner John Mueller said.
Leaders in the Asian-American hate community condemned the hate crime, which is the third incident of violence against the Filipino community in New York in less than a week.
Consul General Elmer Cato called it an "unspeakable act" and joined a coalition calling for anti-hate hate funding to protect the Asian community in the city.
We are outraged by this unspeakable act committed against an elderly member of the Filipino Community. This is the third incident in less than a week where elderly kababayan have become victims of random violence. @AAFederation @PHinNewYork @teddyboylocsin https://t.co/43n2pxrhiN
— Elmer G Cato (@elmer_cato) March 15, 2022