Anti-Asian Violence and Hate Crimes

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.