Prosecutors announced Monday that a man arrested last month in a series of attacks on seven Asian women in New York City has been charged with felony and misdemeanor hate crimes.
Stephen Zajonc, 28, charged with six counts of third-degree assault as a hate crime and seven counts of second-degree aggravated harassment, a misdemeanor of hate, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg He said in a statement.
Zagong’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
Zajonc, who was arrested by police on March 2, is accused of a three-hour series of attacks targeting Asian women on February 27.
Police said Zjonk punched or hurt his victims, aged between 19 and 57, without provocation.
“It is alleged, in the span of just three hours, that Stephen Zajonc selectively ambushed seven Asian women in separate assaults, some striking from behind – for no other reason than race,” Bragg said in his statement.
Authorities said the first attack occurred just after 6 p.m. in a downtown area when the suspect approached a 57-year-old woman, punching her in the face before escaping.
Most of the victims sustained bruises and cuts, Bragg said, and one lost consciousness and was taken to hospital.
Zajonc was arrested when New York Public Library security staff spoke of a patron who looked like the suspect in the attacks, according to police and a library spokesperson.
Police released security video images of a wanted person in connection with the attacks.
The officers eventually managed to arrest the suspect who had holed up in the library. NBC New York mentioned.
A statement on Monday said the district attorney’s office has 27 open cases relating to hate crimes against Asians.
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