Brandon Elliot: Manhattan man on parole gets 15-year sentence for hate crime against Asian woman

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The man who was captured on camera hitting an Asian woman in front of a Manhattan apartment building was given a 15-year prison sentence, which would be followed by five years of supervised release.

After serving time in prison for killing his mother in 2002, the defendant, Brandon Elliot, was granted lifetime parole in 2019.

Brandon Elliot was accused of making anti-Asian remarks

Vilma Kari, the victim of the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood attack in 2021, was allegedly on her way to church that day when Elliot pushed her to the ground and stomped on her several times.

Law&Crime reported, the defendant, a Black man, is accused of making anti-Asian remarks like "You don't belong here." When someone recognized him from a nearby homeless shelter, police took him into custody.

Kari, a native of the Philippines, suffered a head contusion in addition to a fractured pelvis. She spoke to the defendant with grace, now that she had recovered physically from the ordeal, but she never wavered in her assessment of how serious his acts were.

“While I did not physically die that day, a portion of me did,” she said. “A portion of me that made me think I could come to America 40 years ago and be accepted for who I am. I was wrong.”

Kari said he had stolen her tranquility. “Mr Elliot, I will pray for you, even though you may not change,” she said.

Eliot apologized after entering a guilty plea to first-degree assault classified as a hate crime and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Kari expressed her surprise and said she was moved.

Internet questions security guard's reaction towards the incident

After Police Commissioner Edward A Caban posted the incident's video on his official X account, the Internet raised several questions about the security guard's instant reaction as he was seen closing the door on the victim woman.

A user wrote, "It's terrible, that the security guard, didn't at least bring the woman inside to safety and then call the NYPD. However, the new law passed by NYC council, in which NYPD Police Officers can get sued, why would they risk arresting someone, run the risk of losing their home?"

Another user added, "The security guys are closing the door on her instead of helping her out, shameful behavior."

A third commentator admonished, "The crazy part is you have the gentleman on the inside watching and does nothing. Than another gentleman comes over to close the door while the helpless woman trying to get up. Horrible men and citizens."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.