An 84-year-old senior citizen became the subject of hate crime on the streets of San Francisco, where he was killed recently.
Vichar Ratanapakdee was very popular and loved by his fellow neighbors in the San Francisco vicinity where he lived. Moreover, people recall how he used to venture out on long strolls every morning, smiling away. His warm-hearted nature and well-behaved demeanor served as a role model for plenty of people. And that’s exactly why the sudden news of his death sparked outrage in the community.
Vichar kept healthy and positive during the year of the pandemic, making exercise a daily ritual in his routine. Arising from Thailand, he had only recently received the COVID-19 vaccine. That day, he also walked in the Anza Vista neighborhood too, the morning of January 28th. But little did he know about what awaited him.
According to media reports, a man came running towards him from across the street. And then he violently shoved him to the ground which one district attorney referred to as one of the most horrifying and senseless acts to ever ensue.
After the brutal shove, Vichar never regained his consciousness again and the deadly assault killed him. Now, his daughter Monthanus Ratanapakdee recalls the brutal incident with great anger and grief. It took away her father and left a huge hole of sadness in their family.
Now, she is fighting back with tears and wants justice for her father.
One police officer from the same district mentioned how he found Vichar lying helplessly on the streets. He sustained brain hemorrhaging from the brutal fall. His daughter recalls the shocking incident with, “He never woke up again. I never saw him again.”
Officials confirmed how the 19-year-old man was arrested on the suspicion of committing murder as well as abuse to an elderly member of society. But the family claims that the attack was way more than someone preying on the elderly.
According to them, it was an attack of hate crime. Officials refuse to acknowledge such claims and are currently investigating the matter for any form of evidence to prove such claims.