NextSharkNextShark.com

Bystander chases down stranger who randomly punched Asian American woman in DC Chinatown

Bystander chases down stranger who randomly punched Asian American woman in DC Chinatown

An Asian woman was allegedly punched in the face by a stranger while waiting to cross the street in Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown.

June 8, 2022
SHARE
An Asian woman was allegedly punched in the face by a stranger while waiting to cross the street in Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown.
Catherine Xu was standing at Eighth and H streets NW when a stranger randomly struck her in the face on May 30.
“All of a sudden, I just feel like an impact to my face,” Xu told NBC Washington. “Someone had run up and punched me out of nowhere.” 
A bystander immediately jumped in and chased after the attacker to help her, according to Xu.
Subscribe to
NextShark's Newsletter

A daily dose of Asian America's essential stories, in under 5 minutes.

Get our collection of Asian America's most essential stories to your inbox daily for free.

Unsure? Check out our Newsletter Archive.

“I’m really glad the bystander stepped in,” she said. “That made a world of difference. I don’t know what would have happened if there wasn’t any intervention. At least feeling like I’m not alone out there is a little helpful. That restores my faith in humanity a little bit.”
Xu reportedly visited urgent care after the incident. While she did not have any visible injuries, Xu said that she could not eat solid food for a day due to the pain in her jaw.
“I’ve spent the past year-and-a-half or so, ever since the Atlanta shooting, just not really feeling safe anywhere,” Xu was quoted as saying, noting that the incident was shocking but not surprising.
Xu is thankful to the man who helped her, and she is looking forward to meeting him.
The incident, which authorities are not considering a hate crime, is currently being investigated by the D.C. police. 
 
Featured Image via NBC Washington
MOST READ
    HAPPENING NOW
      Michelle De Pacina

      Michelle De Pacina is a New York-based Reporter for NextShark

      SHARE THIS ARTICLE:

      RELATED STORIES FROM NEXTSHARK

      Support
      NextShark's
      Journalism

      Many people might not know this, but NextShark is a small media startup that runs on no outside funding or loans, and with no paywalls or subscription fees, we rely on help from our community and readers like you.

      Everything you see today is built by Asians, for Asians to help amplify our voices globally and support each other. However, we still face many difficulties in our industry because of our commitment to accessible and informational Asian news coverage.

      We hope you consider making a contribution to NextShark so we can continue to provide you quality journalism that informs, educates, and inspires the Asian community. Even a $1 contribution goes a long way. Thank you for supporting NextShark and our community.

      © 2023 NextShark, Inc. All rights reserved.