Prosecutors revealed Thursday that the man accused of stabbing two elderly Asian women in San Francisco earlier this week is now facing several charges, including premeditated attempted murder.
In the “brutal” knife assault, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin charged Patrick Thompson, 54, with two counts of premeditated attempted murder and two counts of elder violence, with enhancements for great bodily harm, great bodily injury on elders, and intimate possession of a dangerous weapon.
The district attorney’s office stated that it is currently consulting with authorities to decide if further cases, including evidence to support hate crime claims, could be filed.
The two women, aged 84 and 63, were stabbed just before 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to San Francisco police.
Both victims were taken to the hospital. The 84-year-old’s -injuries were initially thought to be life-threatening, but she has since been changed to non-life-threatening status, according to police. According to investigators, the 63-year-old’s injuries are not life-threatening. According to the district attorney’s office, one man was stabbed in the lungs, and a knife had to be taken from the second at the hospital.
The names of the victims will not be released by the district attorney.
Thompson was arrested approximately two hours after the attack and booked on two counts of attempted murder and elder violence, according to police. It’s uncertain if he has an attorney.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we have see a raise in hate crimes towards Asians leading some to be killed.
Between mid-March 2020, when the pandemic started, and March 31, 2021, there were over 6,600 hate crimes against Asians and Pacific Islanders registered to Stop AAPI Hate, a nonprofit group that monitors such incidents. In California, approximately 40% of the accidents were registered.
