Suspect in attacks vs. Asian-Americans indicted for multiple hate crimes in New York City

NEW YORK CITY - The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said a suspect in a string of attacks against people of Asian descent has been indicted.

The suspect was identified as Camila Rodriguez, 29, who was charged for the said attacks on the Upper West Side in New York City, including one against a Filipina.

Rodriguez is facing charges of assault in the second degree as a hate crime, six counts of assault in the third degree as a hate crime, and six counts of aggravated harassment in the second degree, covering six different attacks against Asian victims, according to two New York State Supreme Court indictments, a statement

The suspect allegedly targeted at least six Asian victims in separate, unprovoked attacks, court documents showed.

She allegedly kicked a woman of Korean descent in the back of the leg as she walked toward the stairs leading into the subway station at Cathedral Parkway and Broadway on March 16, 2023. 

On March 22, 2023, the suspect then allegedly pulled the hair of a woman on the sidewalk on West 108th Street. She then slapped the victim who was of Chinese descent, then punched her. Both of them fell to the ground. 

On April 8, 2023, the suspect allegedly attacked three individuals of Chinese descent at a restaurant on Amsterdam Avenue between West 106th and West 107th Streets.  

Then on April 21, the suspect reportedly attacked a Filipina at West 104thStreet and Broadway while the victim was walking home.

On April 27, 2023, the suspect allegedly spat in the direction of a victim of Chinese descent at  West 110th Street and Broadway. 

The last attacked linked to the suspect occurred on May 11, 2023. The suspect allegedly yelled and cursed at a man of Korean descent as he stood smoking a cigarette near West 109thStreet and Amsterdam Avenue, then hit him with the back of her hand. 

In a statement, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said, “Hate and harassment have absolutely no place on the streets of Manhattan and New Yorkers of all backgrounds deserve to feel safe. We will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute these types of biased, violent attacks. My thoughts are with the victims as they continue to heal.” —KG, GMA Integrated News