Suspect arrested in connection to hammer attack against pair of Asian women on NYC sidewalk

Police arrested a suspect in connection to a hammer attack against a pair of Asian women on a New York City sidewalk earlier this month, the New York Post reported.

The May 2 attack was caught on surveillance video.

What are the details?

Ebony Jackson, 37, who is homeless, was charged with assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and menacing in connection to the incident, police told the paper.

The Post said the victims were walking on 42nd Street near 9th Avenue — an area known famously as Hell's Kitchen — around 8:40 p.m. when the suspect approached them and yelled, "Take off your mask!"

The suspect then struck one of the women in the head with a hammer resulting in a cut.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @NYPDHateCrimes

The suspect then appears to strike with the hammer at least three more times. Police told the Post one of the victims was hit on the left side of her face.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @NYPDHateCrimes

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @NYPDHateCrimes

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @NYPDHateCrimes

But video shows the hammer apparently is dropped and falls to the sidewalk.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @NYPDHateCrimes

And one of the victims picks up the hammer and appears to dare the attacker to try them again.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @NYPDHateCrimes

Amazingly the attacker — who loses both shoes in the melee — continues to jaw with the victims and appears to threaten to come at them again.

But the victims soon walk away from the scene as the attacker hollers and glares at them and puts her shoes back on.

Here's video of the attack:

Physical attacks against Asians have been spiking in New York City for most of 2021:

• Late last month, a 61-year-old Asian man was left in critical condition after a head-stomping attack in East Harlem.
• Also in April, a broad-daylight attack against a 44-year-old Asian man was caught on video, and the NYPD arrested a different man suspected of carrying out three separate attacks on Asian Americans in Brooklyn. Joseph Russo was charged with hate crimes.
• In March, a 65-year-old Asian woman was attacked in New York City while security guards watched.