SAN FRANCISCO (NewsNation Now) — San Francisco police identified 54-year-old Patrick Thompson in the stabbing of two Asian American women Tuesday afternoon in the Mid-Market neighborhood.
According to witnesses, Thompson was clutching a knife while walking down Market Street when he approached a bus stop, stabbed the two women, then walked away.
The stabbing happened around 5 p.m. and the suspect was arrested around two hours later.
Both of the victims, ages 63 and 84-years old, were taken to the hospital and at last check were listed in stable condition.
The family of one of the victims did not want to be interviewed, but provided the following statement to NewsNation affiliate KRON:
“Thank you for the outpouring of love and support for our family! Our grandmother is stable and recovering from her surgery. She has spoken with my dad over the phone and is in relatively good spirits. She is an absolute fighter and we know she will bounce back from this. The community has been extremely supportive with their kind words and donations.
Our hearts go out to all of those who have been affected by these heinous hate crimes. We just want to feel safe in our community. I once thought that this could never happen to me or my family. Please look out for your loved ones!! Give them hugs and hold them tight.”
VICTORIA ENG AND ENG FAMILY
Police didn’t immediately indicate whether the women were specifically targeted or whether the attack might be a hate crime.
Asian Americans have been the target of several unprovoked attacks in the San Francisco Bay Area in recent months.
Prosecutors have filed assault and hate crime charges against a man accused of an attack last week in which he allegedly yelled racial slurs before knocking down Carl Chan, president of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce.
In separate San Francisco attacks in March, an 83-year-old Vietnamese man was knocked down and broke his neck in the fall, and a 77-year-old woman was similarly attacked. Police arrested a man for assault and elder abuse in both cases.
Another 83-year-old man was pushed down in February, broke a hip and spent weeks in the hospital and in rehabilitation.
NewsNation affiliate KRON and The Associated Press contributed to this report
