A San Francisco man was arrested on suspicion with the brutal, disgusting stabbing of two Asian women in Market Street on Tuesday, said authorities.
Police arrested 54-year-old Patrick Thompson of San Francisco on the 600 block of Eddy Street at around 7:00 p.m. Authorities then booked the suspect at San Francisco County Jail on two charges of attempted murder and elder abuse.
Brutal Stabbing
Officials have not yet determined whether or not Thompson’s attack on the two Asian women is a hate crime. San Francisco police spokesman Robert Rueca said officers who responded to reports of a stabbing at 4th and Stockton streets shortly before 5:00 p.m. discovered two Asian women, aged 63 and 84, suffering from multiple stab wounds.
Police immediately transported the victims to a local hospital to be treated for their injuries. They said the 63-year-old woman suffered only non-life-threatening injuries. On the other hand, the 84-year-old victim initially had life-threatening injuries but was quickly treated.
As of Wednesday morning, San Francisco General Hospital spokesperson Brent Andrew said both victims were in critical condition. The two women were waiting at a bus stop in the area before the suspect suddenly attacked them, District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney said.
The assailant stabbed the 85-year-old in the arm and chest, who is undergoing surgery at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, said Haney. In a Twitter post, Haney called the incident “disgusting and horrific.”
“There is clearly a pattern of targeting Asian residents, and seniors in particular. It was a brazen attack in broad daylight with tons of people around, and it’s absolutely sickening. The person responsible needs to be held accountable, and the city needs to do more to prevent this from happening,” Haney said, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
San Francisco’s District Attorney, Chesa Boudin, expressed his sympathies to the two victims and said they were waiting for more information regarding the incident. Boudin said he was grateful for the quick response of the Community Youth Center of San Francisco.
On Tuesday, police were looking for a male suspect but did not find anyone related to the crime. Later, investigators discovered a photo of the scene captured by a witness which led to the discovery of the suspect.
