ASSAULT, ROBBERY OF ELDERLY MAN TURNS DEADLY, LATEST IN A STRING OF ATTACKS ON ASIANS IN U.S.

An elderly Asian man was out for his regular morning walk through his neighborhood when he was assaulted, robbed and later died from his injuries. 

Now, Teaunte Bailey, 26, is being charged in connection to his murder, according to the Alameda County District Attorney. 

Pak Ho, 75, went out on his normal morning stroll around his Adams Point neighborhood on March 9. During that walk, he was robbed by Bailey, who shoved Ho to the ground during the attack, officials say.

After being shoved, Ho hit his head on the pavement and suffered a traumatic injury and brain damage. Ho died on March 11.

Oakland Police found Bailey in the hours after the attack, according to authorities. When they found him, Bailey fled in a car through the busy streets of Oakland, though police eventually caught him.

 “I’m at a loss for words,” says Oakland Police Chief LeRonne L. Armstrong said. “Our elders should be protected not the victim of a deadly assault. I am thankful that our officers were able to quickly respond and arrest Mr. Bailey. The Oakland Police Department will relentlessly pursue those that violate the most vulnerable members in our community.” 

Besides these crimes, Bailey was also charged with robbery and assault from a Feb. 19 incident. In that case, police say, Bailey broke into a senior living apartment and shoved a 72-year-old victim. 

Bailey proceeded to rob the victim of his phone and stole numerous items from the home, according to the DA’s office.

Bailey was on home supervision and has multiple prior felony convictions, according to authorities.

Bailey now faces special circumstances murder, as well as multiple felonies and special allegation, including crimes against elders and crimes committed while out on bail or own recognizance in connection to both crimes. 

The DA’s Special Response Team is handling this case, a new team created last month after the recent rise in crimes against Asian-American elders.

The deadly assault is the latest in a string of attacks on Asians across the U.S. in recent weeks as the country continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. In January, 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee was shoved to the ground while taking his morning walk in San Francisco, according to reports. His family said the attack was driven by hate.

In early February, a 61-year-old Filipino man’s face was slashed with a box cutter on a New York City subway, reports state.