"NYC Hate Crime: Brandon Elliot Sentenced for Attack on Vilma Kari"

Brandon Elliot, who violently attacked an Asian American woman in Times Square, has been sentenced to 15 years in state prison. Elliot pleaded guilty to assault in the first degree as a hate crime and criminal possession of a weapon. The attack left the victim with a fractured pelvis and contusions, and Elliot's attorney cited his client's mental health issues as a contributing factor. The Manhattan District Attorney expressed hope that the sentencing would send a strong message against violence based on race or ethnicity, and the attack prompted outcry from the Asian American community.