New York City’s Brandon Elliot assaults Vilma Kari in Manhattan

Brandon Elliot, 30, of New York City, New York, United States has a sister who is 14 years younger than him. He previously lived in the Bronx, New York City with her and their mother Bridget Johnson.

In July 2000, Elliott was arrested after allegedly robbing Johnson by yanking jewelry from her neck and choking her. In April 2002, he was arrested after allegedly using a kitchen knife to fatally stab her three times in the chest in their home in the Bronx in front of his younger sister.

For Johnson’s stabbing death, Elliott was convicted of murder and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. In November 2019, he was released on parole.

In early 2021, amid the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Elliott he lived in a hotel on West 40th Street in New York City. The hotel serves as a homeless shelter.

At around 11:40 a.m. on March 29, 2021, Elliott was caught on camera brutally attacking Vilma Kari, 65, in front of the luxury apartment Brodsky Organization in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. The victim, who is a U.S. citizen originally from the Philippines, was on her way to church.

We’ve gone from being invisible to being seen as sub-human. We just want to be seen as American like everyone else. https://t.co/hcLovVbrOH

— Grace Meng (@Grace4NY) March 30, 2021

When Kari fell to the ground, Elliot repeatedly stomped her head while making anti-Asian statements. He allegedly told her, “F— you, you don’t belong here.”

Footage of the attack shows that there were eyewitnesses. At least three Brodsky Organization staff members stood by in the luxury apartment’s lobby and watched the brutal attack unfold.

One of the eyewitnesses closed the door as Elliot walked away and left the Filipino elderly woman on the ground. Upon learning this, the Brodsky Organization immediately released a statement condemning the attack and suspended its staff members who witnessed it but failed to help the victim.

Kari sustained a serious physical injury from the attack. She was rushed to New York University (NYU) Langone Health in New York City.

On March 30, 2021, Kari was discharged from NYU Langone Health and Elliott was arrested. He was charged with two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count each of attempted assault as a hate crime, assault and attempted assault.