San Francisco Man Convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter in 2021 Killing of Thai Grandfather
A San Francisco jury found 24-year-old Antoine Watson guilty of involuntary manslaughter and assault, but not murder, in the January 2021 killing of 84-year-old Thai immigrant Vicha Ratanapakdee, whose death helped galvanize a national movement against anti-Asian American violence. Jurors concluded Watson committed a lesser homicide offense for the unprovoked attack, captured on security video, in which he charged at Ratanapakdee during the victim’s morning walk and knocked him to the ground; Ratanapakdee died two days later without regaining consciousness. Prosecutors did not bring hate-crime charges and the question of racial motive was not argued at trial, with Watson testifying he was in a 'haze' of anger and did not know the victim was Asian or elderly. Defense attorney and San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju said Watson is 'fully remorseful,' while DA Brooke Jenkins’ office declined comment until jurors complete a separate phase on aggravating factors starting Jan. 26, after which sentencing will be set. The verdict will draw scrutiny from Asian American advocates who saw the case as emblematic of a surge in anti-Asian harassment and assaults during the COVID era but now face a legal outcome that stops short of murder or a hate-crime finding.
📌 Key Facts
- Jury found Antoine Watson guilty of involuntary manslaughter and assault, and not guilty of murder, for the Jan. 2021 killing of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee in San Francisco.
- Ratanapakdee was knocked to the ground during his morning walk in his neighborhood and died two days later without regaining consciousness; the attack was captured on a neighbor’s security camera.
- No hate-crime charges were filed, and at trial prosecutors did not argue racial bias; Watson testified he was in a 'haze of confusion and anger' and did not know the victim’s race or age.
- Jurors will return Jan. 26 to hear arguments on aggravating factors before sentencing is scheduled.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2020, of 197 known offenders in anti-Asian hate crimes reported to the FBI, 64% (126) were White, 27% (53) were Black or African American, 16% (32) were Hispanic, 6% (12) were multi-race, and 3% (6) were Asian.
Report to the Nation: 2020s – Dawn of a Decade of Rising Hate — Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, California State University, San Bernardino
In New York City in 2020, of 19 known offenders in anti-Asian hate crimes, 11 were Black and 5 were White.
Report to the Nation: 2020s – Dawn of a Decade of Rising Hate — Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, California State University, San Bernardino
The non-Hispanic Asian population in San Francisco County increased from 267,537 in 2010 (33.2% of total population) to 296,131 in 2022 (36.6% of total population), representing the largest ethnic group.
San Francisco County, CA population by year, race, & more — USA Facts
In 2019, 54.7% of known murder offenders in the US were Black or African American, despite comprising about 13% of the population, compared to 42.3% White offenders (about 60% of population).
Expanded Homicide Data — FBI Uniform Crime Reporting
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