February 3, 2021

The San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA) today welcomed the arrest of 19-year-old Antoine Watson after he allegedly attacked Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old Thai man in San Francisco.

SEE: Suspect Arrested in Deadly Attack on 84-Year-Old Man in San Francisco

 

It is reported last Thursday, Watson ran up to the senior citizen and shoved him on a neighborhood driveway. Watson was arrested for assault and elderly abuse on Sunday. Ratanapakdee was rushed to the hospital and had succumbed to his injuries two days later.

The family is seeking justice for his death and is suspecting anti-Asian racism for this unprovoked attack.

In a statement, CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo said:

“Our prayers are with Vicha Ratanapakdee’s family. We welcome the arrest of Antione Watson for this cruel and unprovoked attack and show solidarity with the Asian-American community at a time of growing racism nationwide. We encourage those who are able to donate to the family’s GoFundMe page to do so in support of funeral and memorial costs.”