Suspect arrested in the stomping attack of the elderly Asian American woman in NYC

A parolee convicted of stabbing his mother to death is a suspect in the assault of an elderly Filipino American woman in New York City.

The suspect, Brandon Elliot, 38, who has spent most of his life behind bars for killing his mother, was arrested early this morning around midnight at a homeless shelter where he had been staying.

Police say people identified Elliot as the suspect through his photo released on social media by the authorities. Besides the assault charges, Elliot will face a hate crime enhancement. He could face up to another 25 years in prison if convicted.

Authorities also released the name of the 65-year old victim, Vilma Kari, who immigrated from the Philippines decades ago. Kari was on her way to church Monday morning when she was victimized by an unprovoked attack in midtown Manhattan near Central Park.

The neighborhood where the attack occurred, Hell’s Kitchen, is predominantly white, with an Asian population of less than 20%, according to demographic data.
  

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea called the attack a “completely unprovoked violent attack on an innocent, defenseless woman.”

A surveillance camera inside the lobby of the apartment building captured the violent assault outside it's glass doors.

The video showed the suspect kicking Kari in the stomach, knocking her to the ground. The attacker continued to stomp on her head several times shouting racial slurs, including, "You don't belong here," before calmly walking away out of the camera's view.

What the camera also recorded was the reaction of security guards in the lobby of the apartment building. While the attack was taking place, one guard glanced towards the assault and then turned away. After the suspect left the scene, instead of going to the victim's assistance, another guard closed the glass door. 

Residents of the apartment building claim their guards called for medical assistance and reported the attack to the police. However, police say no 911 calls were received for the incident. Police came upon the aftermath of the attack as they were driving by.

Another camera captured the attack from the street, showed Kari strugging to get up on her feet but remained on her knees outside the apartment entrance. It took a minute before any passerby stopped, apparently to ask if she needed assistance. The passerby then walked away, Kari still on her knees. No one was seen coming out from the apartment to check on Kari's condition.

The managers of the apartment building say the guards who appeared to do nothing to assist the victim were suspended from their jobs pending an investigation.

Kari was released from the hospital Tuesday after suffering "serious" injuries, according to the New York Times interview of Kari's daughter, who wanted to remain nameless.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the incident “absolutely disgusting and outrageous.” He said it was “absolutely unacceptable” that witnesses did not intervene.

“I don’t care who you are, I don’t care what you do, you’ve got to help your fellow New Yorker,” de Blasio said Tuesday during a news conference. “This is something where we all have to be part of the solution. We can’t just stand back and watch a heinous act happening.”

“This brave woman belongs here,” said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.. “Asian American New Yorkers belong here. Everyone belongs here.”