Joseph Russo Facing Hate Crime Charges In Connection To 2 Anti-Asian Attacks In Brooklyn
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Brooklyn man is facing hate crime charges after allegedly pushing a 77-year-old Asian man to the ground.
It happened around 11:15 a.m. Monday in front of J&R NY Supermarket on Avenue U in Sheepshead Bay.
Police said the victim was looking at vegetables outside the store, when the suspect knocked him down and kept walking.
Investigators believe it was a random attack and no words were exchanged.
Surveillance video taken before the assault shows the suspect grab a bouquet of flowers outside a store and throw it across the sidewalk.
Police announced Wednesday that 27-year-old Joseph Russo, of Brooklyn, had been arrested.
Russo is facing charges of assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment as a hate crime.
He is also facing charges in connection to another incident in Brooklyn.
Police say on March 22, Russo allegedly approached a 32-year-old Asian woman on Kings Highway and grabbed and pulled her hair. He then let her go and walked away without saying anything.