Local Leaders Rally Around Asian-American Community After Brooklyn Hammer Attack
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – A community rally was held in Brooklyn Friday in support of the three men killed during an unprovoked hammer attack last week.
City Council Members Chaim Deutsch and Margaret Chin hosted the unity rally outside the Seaport Buffet on Emmons Avenue in Sheepshead Bay on Friday, reports CBS2's Cindy Hsu.
Local faith leaders and activists joined the city officials in a show of solidarity with the Asian-American community.
"When someone attacks one New Yorker, they're attacking all New Yorkers," said Deutsch.
WEB EXTRA - Watch The Entire Unity Rally Here:
The third victim from the Jan. 15 attack died Thursday, the same day Seaport Buffet reopened for business after 34-year-old Arthur Martunovich's violent rampage.
The chef, 34-year-old Fufai Pun, died that night. The owner, 60-year-old Thang Ng, died three days later.
The final victim, a 50-year-old manager, has not been identified.
"An individual cowardly and viciously attacked three innocent New Yorkers for no other reason than the fact that they were Asian," said city council member Margaret Chin.
Sources tell CBS2 that Seaport Buffet's owner has reportedly given workers at the restaurant on the night of the attack time off to recover from any possible trauma.
Martunovich, who has no known ties to the restaurant, was charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon. He was heard telling investigators he "heard voices" when he allegedly walked into the restaurant and attacked a chef, a manager and one of the owners.
All three victims were the bread winners for their families. The owner had immigrated from Malaysia decades ago.
"Like many immigrants, he came here so that he can send money home to support the family there so they are really in dire straits right now," said Karen Low of the Malaysian American Association.
The restaurant has just re-opened under the management of Edwin Cheng.
"We are still going to be a cornerstone over here, everybody was beloved, everybody who worked here was beloved," said Cheng. "We'll continue to follow that tradition."
Amber Adler brought her two young boys to the rally to show support.
"This community is a good place," she said. "We care about each other, we care about all the cultures, we care about all the people, we're going to condemn any hate crime."
The suspect is now hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation.