SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – A San Francisco jury has delivered a guilty verdict in a recent assault case, marking a victory in the fight against a spate of violence targeting older Asian residents in the Bay Area. The incident took place outside an apartment building on Duboce Avenue, where the victim, a woman who owned and lived in the building, was brutally attacked in the early hours of June 8, 2022. The defendant, 39-year-old Thomas Crandell, was convicted of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury.
According to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, the victim reported that Crandell attempted to break into the building by banging and kicking the glass door. When she confronted him, Crandell allegedly used an anti-Asian slur, physically assaulted her, and fled the scene before police arrived. Despite Crandell’s attempt to evade justice, he was arrested 10 days later and ultimately stood trial for the crime.
The guilty verdict was praised by Assistant District Attorney Jamal Anderson, who emphasized the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for such egregious conduct. The District Attorney, Brooke Jenkins, also expressed gratitude to the jury for delivering justice to the victim and reiterated her office’s commitment to standing with victims and fighting for justice in the courtroom.
The conviction of Crandell carries significant weight in the wake of another violent attack on Duboce Avenue, where an older Asian woman was fatally stabbed just one year later. These acts of violence have heightened concerns about the safety and security of Asian residents in the Bay Area and underscore the urgency of addressing anti-Asian hate and violence in the community.
Crandell now faces sentencing in January 2023 and could potentially receive up to four years in prison for the assault. These recent incidents serve as a stark reminder of the pressing need to address the safety and protection of older Asian residents in San Francisco and the broader Bay Area.