A suspect involved in the attack that left a 75-year-old Asian man brain dead has been identified.
26-year-old Oakland resident Teaunte Bailey was arrested for shoving the Asian man to the ground, ultimately leaving him on life support.
The incident occurred just before 7am on Tuesday morning on Jayne Avenue. Bailey was arrested at 9pm later that day.
According to authorities, Bailey had an extensive and violent history and was already out on probation for a similar robbery attack last June.
San Francisco Police Department documents show that Bailey was arrested on 4 April along with robbery suspect 24-year-old Oakland resident Melissa Taylor. The pair had fled a robbery and were pursued by police. An infant baby was found inside their vehicle.
Bailey was booked for felony charges of robbery, conspiracy, possession of stolen property, parole violation, child endangerment and multiple counts of destroying evidence.
Oakland Chinatown representatives are now fearing that a bill being pushed through state legislature could make robberies more common. Senate Bill 82would only allow charges of petty theft when no one is injured and no weapons are used.
“We need to consider how this law will effect people whether they’re committing crimes and especially those victims,” said Carl Chan, the president of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, speaking about State Senator Nancy Skinner’s bill.
“After they are committing the first one, they may come back doing it over and over again until when they’re seriously committing a crime that will hurt people badly, or someone may die,” said Chan.
State Senator Skinner released a statement in response to the assault and robbery.
“My deepest condolences to the family and friends of the elderly gentleman who was brutally attacked yesterday in Oakland. Such an act of violence must be seen for what it is, and I’m deeply saddened by the recent increase in violent attacks on Asian residents in our community,” the statement read.
“But I must set the record straight about my legislation, SB 82. SB 82 will not lessen penalties that should appropriately be charged against perpetrators who commit violent incidents such as the one that happened yesterday.”
“The purpose of SB 82, which has the support of judges throughout California, is to clarify state law so that nonviolent cases of theft are not charged as violent felonies. Under SB 82, thefts like yesterday’s brutal attack, as well as any theft that results in great bodily injury, would remain violent felonies.”
Chan said the victim’s family are completely heartbroken.
“The daughters didn’t expect this to happen to their father, and absolutely not expecting anything could happen early in the morning,” Chan said. “The victim is not responsive. I think they have a very much a serious decision to be made tonight.”
The victim’s three daughters live in the east. One has returned to the area and the other two are inbound. They will need to decide whether to take their father off life support.
The incident follows a series of attacks on Asian people in the area. Last month, a 91-year-old man was violently pushed to the ground in Oakland’s Chinatown. The suspect had already been out on bail.
Not too long after, 70-year-old grandmother was knocked to the ground and robbed on her way home from the bank in Oakland.
During Chinese New Year, an Asian woman had her car stolen after being attacked on Chinese New Year in the city.
Consequently, a volunteers group called ‘Asians with Attitudes’ began patrolling the area.
Meanwhile, a store owner in Oakland’s Chinatown was arrested for firing a gun in the air to deter a robber.
In other news, a homeless woman has been charged with at hate crime and battery for spitting on and attacking an Asian man in Mountain View near San Jose.
