Doormen FIRED after perp beats Asian woman in front of luxury building during brutal ‘hate crime’: Reports

Two NYC doormen have been fired after failing to assist an Asian woman who was attacked outside of a Manhattan building last month.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, the incident happened on March 30, near West 43rd Street and Ninth Avenue, around two blocks away from Times Square. A man identified as Brandon Elliot, 38,  allegedly started yelling racist slurs as he walked toward Vilma Kari, who was walking to church.

“F–k you, you don’t belong here,” Elliot reportedly yelled.

As the attack unfolded, the building staff members were caught on security footage standing by and observing the assault. One of the staff members closed the building door without offering assistance to the victim.

Kari was eventually taken to an area hospital with a fractured pelvis. Police say the suspect and victim did not know each other.

TMZ reports that the building’s management team, The Brodsky Organization, said the two staff members were fired “for not following emergency and safety protocols.”

According to New York Daily News, an extended version of the video showed the doormen walking out to assist the victim after Elliot ran off. However, they failed to immediately call 911 and report the assault.

The doormen reportedly said they didn’t go out immediately because the suspect had a knife.

“While the full lobby video shows that once the assailant had departed, the doormen emerged to assist the victim and flag down an NYPD vehicle, it is clear that required emergency and safety protocols were not followed,” The Brodsky Organization said in a Tuesday statement. “For this reason, their employment has been terminated, effective immediately.”

Previous Coverage: Extended Security Footage

Elliot was subsequently arrested and charged with attempted assault “as a hate crime,” assault, and attempted assault.

This isn’t the first time Elliot has been arrested for a violent crime.

According to court documents, Elliot was convicted of murder after stabbing his mother to death in 2002. He was released on parole in 2019.

Vilma Kari
Vilma Kari/GoFundMe

Authorities said that this year alone, at least 33 hate crimes have happened against Asian people in NYC, Yahoo News reports. Last week, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said that a “robust team” of undercover officers are undergoing training to help combat anti-Asian violence.

“The next person you target, whether it’s through speech, menacing activity, or anything else, walking along a sidewalk or on a train platform, maybe a plainclothes New York City police officer. So think twice.”

Kari’s daughter, Elizabeth Kar, set up a GoFundMe campaign to help with her mother’s medical bills, and to help spread awareness about violence against Asian Americans. The campaign has amassed over $250,000 so far.

Elizabeth said her mother is healing and in “good spirits.”

“Although the healing process will not be easy, she has always been a resilient role model for me. We are hopeful that in time she will make a full recovery.”

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[Feature Photo via NYPD CrimeStoppers]