(NextShark) A 66-year-old Korean Deli owner from Flatbush, Brooklyn, was beaten inside his store by a customer who refused to pay on Saturday morning.
The attack on the owner, Ki Tae Lee, was caught on surveillance camera and is currently being investigated as a possible anti-Asian hate crime.
“I was cleaning the deli section when this person just threw everything off my counter,” Lee told ABC7 New York. “I went to tell him to stop. He said something, then he punched me. He was saying as he was punching me also.”
“He was saying some sort of curse words and derogatory things, but I can’t say exactly what they were,” Lee reportedly said.
Lee was brought to the hospital after the incident left him with injuries on his head above his left ear. He is now seeking justice, according to ABC7.
“I think we have to all stand together now and make sure they are OK and that our community is OK,” Lee’s neighbor Michael Meade told CBS New York.
“It’s tragic. I mean, this is a great family, hard working, here every single day, working 365 days a year. It’s heartbreaking to see it. I just wanted to come out and support them.”
(CBSNewYork) …He said his wife has stepped out for a moment when a man walked in demanding not to pay for his food.
“Free everything. No pay, yeah,” Lee said.
Moments later, the suspect started to trash the front counter. When Lee tried to stop him, he was assaulted…
The owner said the attacker has made anti-Asian comments in the past, but he is not sure if he did it this time…
Investigators spent a good part of Sunday collecting more evidence, including security video.
No arrests have been made…
