‘I came here to f**k up Asians’: Man Arrested for Attacking Asian Woman, 54, with a Metal Pipe in NYC

Ming Liang was walking from the grocery store on Grand Street near Ludlow at around 4:45 p.m. when the suspect, Elias Guerrero, came up to her and hit her face with a metal pipe, according to New York Daily News.

Everything happened too fast, Liang told the publication in Fujianese, a dialect in China, on Monday.

“I’m in pain,” she said. “I’m scared to go out. I’m worried. I never thought it would happen to me.”

More than 10 bystanders came to help Liang after she fell to the ground from the attack. Some gave her napkins to stop the bleeding, while others called 911 for help. Meanwhile, Guerrero ran away from the scene after people started coming to Liang’s aid.

“I didn’t hear him say anything to me,” Liang said. “I think I was caught up in the moment, but witnesses who were around say he yelled at me.”

Police sources said Guerrero yelled “I came here to f**k up Asians” at Liang during the assault.

The victim suffered a cut across her nose and swelling under her left eye. She was rushed to the Beth Israel hospital to get her injuries treated.

“I’m worried for her,” one of Liang’s daughters said. “It also happened in broad daylight, that’s why I’m shocked. It happened on Grand St., which is a very crowded street. It’s not just an alleyway. That’s why I’m scared.”

The family said they are scared about the number of crimes against Asian Americans continuing to rise, even in Chinatown.

“It’s scary to be out,” the daughter said. “We thought maybe being in Chinatown would be fine because you’re not in another neighborhood. But this happened in Chinatown.”

“If someone’s willing to hurt me while walking down the street, what if it happens again?” Liang said.

Guerrero, who was previously arrested for a different crime in 2017, is facing assault as a hate crime, resisting arrest, harassment and weapon possession charges.

Feature Image via Getty