Asian Powerlifting Champion Attacked by Hammer-Wielding Robber While Walking Dog in LA

Daniella Means, a former Hong Kong Rugby player and an Asian powerlifting champion, was attacked by a robber with a hammer while walking out her dog in Los Angeles last week.

What happened: Means, 30, was walking her dog Butch on their usual route at around 7 a.m. on May 18 when the attack occurred, South China Morning Post reported.

An unnamed man armed with a hammer approached Means and demanded she give him her bag and phone. The man allegedly threatened to hit Means unless she gave in to his demands, she narrated in an Instagram video.
Means was “baffled” and in “disbelief” at what was happening. The man hit her across the head once after she refused. She said the force of the attack broke her orbital bone and nose. She was convinced she lost her eyesight from the attack.
While on her hands and knees, Means begged the man not to hit her again or hurt her dog.
The man reportedly stood over Means and apologized after taking her belongings and proceeded to run away.
She later came across a couple who helped her call 911 and Jon Bond, the co-founder of Hybrid Gym Hong Kong and Los Angeles, whom Means works with. Paramedics took Means to the ER, and the LAPD took her statement and the suspect’s description.

The aftermath: About one hour after taking her statement, authorities arrested the man for attempting to assault another woman.

She managed to identify the suspect from the lineup of photos presented to her by the police. Authorities also recovered her belongings and the hammer used to attack her.
“I’m just grateful that it didn’t go as bad as it could have done,” she said. Means also shared she did not believe her encounter should be categorized as a hate crime.
“The man who assaulted me demanded for my belongings, hit me when I didn’t hand them over, and then left me once he had them with no mention of my race or ethnicity,” she wrote.
Means was born and raised in Hong Kong. She moved to California after opening Hybrid Gym Los Angeles. The Los Angeles-based gym is an affiliate of the same gym name in Hong Kong, where she is the vice president.

Featured Image via @daniellameans

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