The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has arrested a man suspected of shoving a 91-year-old man in Oakland’s Chinatown, a disturbing incident that was caught on video last month.
Community members and law enforcement remain worried about an increase in violence against Asians, particularly older residents.
"We know that some people come to Chinatown to target people," said Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong, just after his swearing in ceremony earlier Monday. Armstrong joined Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley at the press conference in calling for increased vigilance.
"No ethnic group has been immune from this, but over the past few years the crime has been particularly focused on Asian individuals and particularly vulnerable Asian individuals," he said.
The event was originally planned to announce a $30,000 reward backed by actors Daniel Wu and Daniel Dae Kim.
"I know Oakland Chinatown really well," said Wu, an East Bay native. "When I started to see these crimes happening, I was appalled."
That money will now be redirected.
The suspect, 28-year-old Yahya Muslim, was already in custody since Monday on unrelated charges, but has not yet been charged in the case of the 91-year-old man. He is, however, facing charges of assault, battery and elder abuse in two other acts of violence in the Chinatown neighborhood.
On his first day on the job, Armstrong pledged to leverage available resources to continue monitoring the neighborhood. "As I take over, I promise this community we will give every effort and attention," he said.
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