SF Asian Community Rallies in Support of Assaulted Grandmother Left With Broken Spine, Shattered Face
By Ryan General
The heinous beating of Yik Oi Huang, an 88-year-old grandmother in Visitacion Valley, San Francisco, has brought together family and community members in a solemn vigil on Saturday night.
The gathering, organized by the victim’s granddaughter, Susanna Yee, aims to send positive thoughts and prayers her grandmother’s way, ABC7 News reports.
“The tragedy is overwhelming,” Yee was quoted as saying. “When we visit her every day, it’s joyous to see the little twitches, signs of life.”
Yee lamented that she can’t hug or kiss her grandmother as the assault left her with a broken spine, hand, ribs and a shattered face.
According to Yee, her family has been victimized by many burglaries and robberies over the years while living in Visitacion Valley.
She noted that the meeting was also meant to open a discussion on the needed safety improvements in the neighborhood. Attendees have stated that more neighborhood watch programs would be helpful.
Huang was on her usual morning walk early Tuesday morning when she was beaten unconscious and left for dead at a local playground. She remains in critical condition and on life support at San Francisco General Hospital.
Investigators from the San Francisco police have since been reviewing video from the neighborhood and speaking to witnesses to gain information related to the still open case.
Ingleside Station Captain Jack Hart, who joined the vigil, said he spoke to the SFPD’s Special Victims Unit on Saturday.
“The Special Victim’s Unit of SFPD, I don’t think have slept since this incident has occurred.” Capt. Hart was quoted as saying. “When I learned of this case, it was just one of the more shocking things that I had ever heard and spending time with the family being in San Francisco General Hospital, it’s an overwhelming experience.”
The San Francisco Police Officer’s Association (SFPOA) is now offering a $10,000 reward to anyone who can help the arrest and conviction of the person who assaulted Huang.
Yee also organized a fundraiser in a bid to raise money to “increase the reward and encourage people to share information that could help bring justice to Grandma Huang and her family.”
“If the reward is not collected, the funds will go towards the medical care and healing of Grandma Huang,” noted the GoFundMe page.
Featured Image via Facebook / itsnataliegee
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