Suspect in hammer attack charge with hate crime for killing three r

The man accused of killing three Asian men with a hammer at a Brooklyn restaurant faces hate crime charges, the Brooklyn District Attorney announced.

Authorities said Arthur Martunovich, 34, was arraigned via video Friday on a 21-count indictment. He remains at Bellevue Hospital, where he is being treated for mental health issues.

Martunovich is suspected of viciously attackng the employees of the Seaport Buffet Chinese restaurant on on January 15 with a hammer.

A dishwasher told the Daily News that Martunovich spared him, telling him, “I don’t have a problem with the Hispanics, but with the Chinese.”

The suspect then began attacking the restaurant employees who were Asian including the restaurant's chef, Fufai Pun, 34, manager Tsz Mat Pun, 50, and the owner, Kheong Ng-Thang, 50. Fufai Pun, died at the hospital the day of the attack while Thaang a day later followed by Tsz Pun.

According to court documents, when police were interviewing Martunovich after his arrest, he said, "Chinese men are awful. They hold their women captive. And their women have like real (inaudible) ability and that's why they keep them captive." 
When an officer asked if the defendant had a hammer, he said no, but later in the night, he admitted to having a hammer.

"I left my apartment with the hammer. I brought the hammer to prove my love to women. I threw the hammer but don't remember," Martunovich reportedly said.

Martunovich also three murder along with assault charges for allegedly attacking two police officers who arrested him.
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Hammer-wielding attacker kills Asian American chef

SCREEN CAPTURE / CBS

A MAN using a hammer attacked employees at a Brooklyn, killing at least one.

The alleged attacker, Arthur Martunovich, told detectives he was inspired by a movie about Chinese mistreatment of women.

After watching the movie - whose title Martunovich couldn't recall - he told police that he had "no choice' but to attack the workers at the Seapprt Buffet.

According to witnesses, Martunovich, 34, allegedly entered the restaurant around 5 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 15) and struck owner Kheong Ng-Thang, 60, over the head. He then entered the kitchen where he supposedly attacked Tsz Mat Pung, 50, and killed chef Fufai Pun, 34. Thang died at the hospital Saturday (Jan 19) but Pung remains in critical condition.

The construction worker was charged with two counts of murder, attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon, sources said.

“He had problems with Asian men,” one law enforcement source told the New York Post. “He talked about how Asian women are being treated by their men.”

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