Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg today announced the indictment of CHRISTIAN JEFFERS, 48, for attacking a 29-year-old Asian man inside the Union Square subway station while yelling anti-Asian slurs. JEFFERS is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with Attempted Assault in the First Degree as a Hate Crime, Assault in the Second Degree, and Menacing in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime, among other charges. [1]
“Hate-driven violence and slurs have no place in New York,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Disturbingly, this alleged hate crime was just one in a wave of recent anti-Asian attacks. I want our AAPI neighbors to know that the Manhattan D.A.’s Office is here for you, and we are committed to your safety. Led by Assistant D.A. Hannah Yu, our Hate Crimes Unit is engaging with numerous AAPI community organizations, as well as actively recruiting for a new Counselor in our Witness Aid Services Unit who will serve this community. We hope to secure funding to expand the Hate Crimes Unit and enhance our cultural competency and language abilities. If you are a victim or know someone who is a victim of a hate crime, we’re just a phone call away: call our hotline at 212-335-3100.”
According to the indictment and statements made on the record in court, at approximately 9:05 p.m. on March 8, 2022, JEFFERS bumped into the victim, an Asian man who was with his wife, inside the Union Square Station subway station. JEFFERS stated in substance, “You can’t see me? You don’t have eyes?” and stepped on the victim’s foot. When the victim pushed JEFFERS away, JEFFERS allegedly struck him on the head with a hammer, lacerating his skin and causing swelling and substantial pain. When the victim fell to the ground, his wife followed JEFFERS, who threatened her with the hammer. The next day, JEFFERS was spotted by an NYPD Officer at the 125th Street/Lexington Avenue subway station. After being arrested, JEFFERS made racially offensive comments to both a Hispanic NYPD Officer and an Asian NYPD Sergeant.
Assistant D.A. Patrick Nelligan is handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Hannah Yu (Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit) and Executive Assistant D.A. Joyce Smith (Chief of the Trial Division).
D.A. Bragg thanked NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force and members of Transit District 4.
Defendant Information:
CHRISTIAN JEFFERS
New York, New York
Charged:
- Attempted Assault in the First Degree as a Hate Crime, a class B felony, one count
- Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a class D felony, one count
- Menacing in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime, a class E felony, one count
- Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor, one count