California authorities have arrested a man accused of attacking two Asian people on the same day.
The San Francisco Police Department reports that 39-year-old Steven Jenkins was arrested following “violent assaults” against a 75-year-old Asian female and an 83-year-old Asian male.
The 75-year-old, identified as Xiao Zhen Xie, said she was standing on a sidewalk, waiting at a traffic light at Market Street and Charles J. Brenham Place at around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, when a random man approached her and punched her in the face.
Xie immediately defended herself. She found a stick and struck back at the man, according to her daughter, Dong-Mei Li.
“She found the stick around the area and fought back,” Li told the CBS SF Bay Area.
Xie, who speaks Cantonese, had Li translate her version of what happened on the day in question.
“Very traumatized, very scared and this eye is still bleeding,” Li said. “The right eye still cannot see anything and still bleeding and we have something to absorb the bleeding.”
Video footage from the scene showed Xie still holding a stick while the suspect was strapped to a gurney with a bloodied mouth. Witnesses at the scene told CBS SF BayArea that Xie “pummeled” the alleged attacker “with a paddle.”
Just came upon an attack on an elderly Asian woman on Market Street San Francisco. Effort I got more details pic.twitter.com/5o8r0eeHE2
— Dennis O'Donnell (@DennisKPIX) March 17, 2021
Thirty minutes prior to the attack on Xie, witnesses told police they saw the suspect area in the of Market and 7th Street at around 10 a.m., where he “approached the male victim and assaulted him.” Jenkins reported fled the scene after attacking the victim, identified as an 83-year-old Asia male.
While running on foot, Jenkins allegedly spotted and attacked Xie shortly after.
“You bum, why did you bully me?’ and ‘He hit me, he hit me!” Xie screamed in Cantonese at the suspect.
“He bullied me, he bullied me, jerk…He bullies old people so I gave a punch.”
Jenkins was detained by a security guard and the second victim until police arrived, Heavy reports.
“Jenkins was later booked at San Francisco County Jail on two charges of assault likely to produce great bodily injury (245(a)(4) PC), and two charges of elder abuse (368(b)(1) PC),” San Fransisco PD said.
Investigators added that both assaults were likely unprovoked and authorities are working to determine if a hate crime took place.
Meanwhile, Xi’s family started a GoFundMe page for funds to help out with medical expenses.
“Her wrist has also swelled up. She has been severely affected mentally, physically, and emotionally. She also stated that she is afraid to step out of her home from now on,” Xi’s grandson wrote on GoFundMe.
“This traumatic event has left her with PTSD. Although she has health insurance that covers the basics, there are still many medical expenses that cannot be covered on her own. She is a cancer survivor and she also has had diabetes for over 10 years now.”
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[Feature Photo: Screenshot via Dennis O’Donnell/KPIX]
