Two elderly Asian women, one of whom is 85 years old, were stabbed yesterday afternoon around 5p.m. at 4th and Market Streets.
San Francisco Police (SFPD) have confirmed they have now arrested the suspect and they have yet to determine if the assault was racially motivated.
Tenderloin officers found two women at 4th and Stockton streets suffering from stab wounds. Matt Haney, SF District 6 Supervisor, said that the 85 year old woman, was in surgery at San Francisco General Hospital and that she was stabbed while waiting for a bus.
Before the suspect was arrested at about 7p.m., officer Rueca of the SFPD confirmed via his twitter account that the SFPD and SFPD Tenderloin were “investigating stabbing at 4th&Stockton Streets. 2 adult Asian females stabbed, suspect fled scene. Investigators gathering details leading up to the assault”
Chesa Boudin, District Attorney of San Francisco, quickly condemned the violent attacks via social media;
Heartbroken tonight for two elderly AAPI victims of a stabbing on Market. We're awaiting more info & praying for the victims as they undergo medical treatment.
The District Attorney aslo thanked the Community Youth Center of San Francisco for supporting the families of the two victims.
Since the start of the pandemic last March, there has been a surge in abuse targetting the AAPI community, who has reported increased fears following several acts of violence and hate directed at Asian Americans.
A national report by the group Stop AAPI Hate, the anti-Asian hate reporting center, found that out of 3,795 hate incidents reported between March 2020 and February 2021, physical assault (11.1%) comprised the third largest category of the total incidents. Businesses are the primary site of discrimination (35.4%), followed by public streets (25.3%), and public parks (9.8%). Online incidents account for 10.8% of the total incidents.Around 1,600 of those hate attacks were reported in California, home to over six million Asian Americans, according to the latest population estimates.
When President Joe Biden addressed the nation on the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 lockdown, he firmly condemned the discrimination and hate crimes Asian Americans have experienced.
"At this very moment, so many of them, our fellow Americans, they're on the front lines of this pandemic trying to save lives, and still, still they're forced to live in fear for their lives just walking down streets in America. It's wrong. It's un-American. And it must stop", President Jo Biden said
The Police are urging that any members of the public with information regarding the two female victims attacked yesterday, to please call SFPD Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 begin with SFPD.
Those who may have witnessed or experienced a hate crime should always report it and they can call the San Francisco District Attorney’s Hate Crime hotline at (628) 652-4311.