Man Arrested For Brutal Attack On Asian Woman Was On Parole For Murdering Mother

The man accused of brutally attacking a 65-year-old Asian woman in broad daylight Monday was serving lifetime parole for murdering his mother in 2002, local authorities said.

The New York Police Department arrested 38-year-old Brandon Elliot on Wednesday morning at a Midtown hotel doubling as a homeless shelter near the site of the attack, CBS News reported. The homeless man was allegedly the perpetrator who was seen in security footage assaulting the elderly Asian woman to the ground while several onlookers did nothing to help.

Information received from witnesses and locals led to Elliot's arrest, authorities said.

Police said Elliot was released from prison in 2019 after serving time for mudering his mother with a kitchen knife in front of his then five-year-old sister in their Bronx home when he was 19-years-old.

State prosecutors charged Elliot with two counts of second-degree assault as a hate crime and one count of attempted assault in the first degree as a hate crime for the attack, the New York Post reported.

"At about 11:40 a.m. Monday morning, the victim was on her way to church when [Elliot] approached her on the street, cursed at her, told her she didn't belong here, called her an Asian something... and kicked her in the chest, knocking her to the ground and proceeded to stomp on her head," Assistant District Attorney Courtney Razner told the court during Elliot's arrainment on Wednesday night.

"The victim was taken to the hospital for a fracture to the pelvis and contusions to the head and body. She was hospitalized for over a day," Razner said.

Police initially reported Elliot was spouting anti-Asian rhetoric during the assault. "F--k you, you don't belong here, you Asian," he was quoted as saying.

Outgoing District Attorney Cyrus Vance rebutted Elliot's words in a prepared statement to the court.

"Let me be clear: this brave woman belongs here. Asian-American New Yorkers belong here. Everyone belongs here," Vance said. "Attacks against Asian-American New Yorkers are attacks against all New Yorkers."

Elliot is due back in court on April 5.