Arrest made in assault of Asian store owner in DC; police investigating as possible hate crime

Video shows attack on Asian shop owner in DC

D.C. police are looking for suspects after an attack on an Asian shop owner was caught on camera.

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - D.C. police have made an arrest in connection to an assault where the suspect allegedly shouted, "F* the Chinese. I hate the Chinese" at a store owner before punching him in the face.

VIDEO: Suspect reportedly said ‘I hate the Chinese’ before assaulting DC shop owner

Police say 30-year-old Samuel Delwyn Thomas of Cockeysville, MD has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault.

MPD says the incident happened on Tuesday, May 4 at approximately 1:46 pm when the suspect entered a business in the 1300 block of 4th Street NE.

When the man reportedly asked the shop owner, Chuong Hu Lu, to open a jewelry case, Hu Lu said no due to his story policy.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Store owner assault in northeast DC could have been motivated by hate, bias: police

Surveillance video then shows the man punching Hu Lu twice, once in the head and the other in the mouth while yelling and cursing at him.

Hu Lu was taken to the hospital where he received over a dozen stitches.

Attack on DC Asian shop owner caught on camera

DC police are investigating a possible hate crime after an attack on an Asian shop owner was caught on camera.

D.C. police are investigating this as a possible hate crime.

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If you can help police in their investigation, call (202) 727-9099, or text 50411.

News Washington, D.C.Crime and Public Safety