Jarrod Powell (50), was indicted in April’s attack on Yao Pan Ma. Yao Pan Ma was a 61 year-old father of two. He died eight months after his head had been stomped in that brutal attack.
New York City’s man was indicted for second-degree murder in hate crime charges in the April attack on a 61 year-old Chinese immigrant, who died several months later.
Alvin Bragg , Manhattan District Attorney, announced Thursday Jarrod Powell, 50 was indicted in a New York State Supreme Court Indictment for the April 23 attack against Yao Pan Ma.
Ma died on New Years Eve, after nearly eight months spent in hospital following the attack.
Bragg stated in a statement that Yao Pan Ma, the beloved father of two, died amid a wave of anti-Asian attacks on our families, friends and neighbors. Jarrod Powell allegedly targeted Mr. Ma only because he was of his race, as it is alleged.
Bragg’s office cited the indictment as well as statements that were recorded in court. They stated that the attack took place at 8:15 p.m. on April 23.
Ron Kim, a member New York State Assembly, had been in touch Ma’s family. had previously stated that Ma was out collecting cans to help rent when he was attacked.
According to some reports, Powell is said to have approached Ma from behind before striking him and knocking him down.
Powell is accused then of repeatedly kicking Ma in the neck, head and face.
The attack was shown in surveillance video released by New York Police Department’s Hate Crimes Task Force.
Bragg’s office claims that the defendant fled the scene while Ma lay unconscious on the street corner, where the attack took place.
A bus driver stopped at a red light and saw the attack, flagged down an ambulance nearby, and first responders took Ma to the hospital where he was treated with facial fractures, bleeding on his brain, and other injuries.
Ma suffered a traumatic brain injury, and was placed on life support.
After being identified by video surveillance, Powell was taken into custody on April 27th and charged with multiple felonies of attempted murder.
At his June 22 arraignment, he pleaded not guilty. His charges were expected to be raised following the Ma’s murder homicide ruling.
According to Bragg’s office, Powell gave statements to police following his arrest. He stated that he was attacked by two Korean and Japanese men one day before he allegedly launched the attack on Ma.
According to the defendant, he didn’t report the alleged attack on police and didn’t provide any description of the attackers other than their racial identities.
The attack took place amid a series of racially motivated attacks on Asian Americans throughout the country.
According to an analysis of preliminary police data conducted by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, California State University, San Bernardino, the rise in hate crime was first discovered in March and April 2020.
Bragg stated that his office is currently prosecuting 33 hate crime cases “driven anti-Asian bias” on Thursday. This was, he stated, “unfortunately, our highest number of Hate Crimes Unit cases since 2010”.
According to the Manhattan D.A.’s Office, it has prosecuted almost four times as many anti-Asian hate crime cases in 2021 than the previous year. This is despite a “significant rise in anti-Asian hatred crimes investigations.”
Bragg stated, “Now more than ever it is important that we, as New Yorkers and as prosecutors, remain vigilante and forcefully reject bias fuelled crimes in our communities.”
He encouraged residents to use his office to report crimes regardless of their immigration status.
New Yorkers who are victims or witnesses to hate crimes or bias incidents should call the Hate Crimes Hotline at (212) 335-3100.
