Chou Ya insulted an Asian woman and then snatched her phone, 2 suspects are on the run

On September 28, a 25-year-old Asian woman became a victim of robbery in downtown Brooklyn, New York, where she was also subjected to racially charged verbal abuse from two suspects. According to police reports, one of the suspects engaged the victim with discriminatory comments, providing the distraction that allowed the other to snatch her cellphone before both suspects fled the scene.

The incident took place around 3 p.m. at the corner of Fulton Street and Willoughby Street. Witnesses described how the two suspects approached the woman, with one hurling derogatory remarks. As the victim became distracted, the second suspect took that moment to steal her phone, which resulted in minor injuries to the woman before they made their escape. She was later taken to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn for treatment and is currently reported to be in stable condition.

Investigators from the 84th Precinct in Brooklyn have released surveillance footage featuring one of the suspects, who was seen wearing a beige knit jacket and has a butterfly tattoo on her left hand. Unfortunately, the second suspect was not captured on camera. The police are appealing to the public for any information, stating that the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force has already started looking into the case.

A recent survey conducted by the Asian American Foundation in 2024 revealed troubling statistics: 32% of Asian Americans reported experiencing verbal discrimination in the past year, 57% felt unsafe because of their ethnicity, and 40% believed they were at a heightened risk for racial attacks.

Authorities encourage anyone with information to reach out by calling the Crime Stoppers hotline at (800) 577-TIPS (8477), visiting the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestopper.com, or contacting them on X @NYPDTips. Reports can also be submitted via the Crime Stoppers mobile app “CS-NYC,” with all information kept confidential.