Crime

Community calls for unity after Sheepshead Bay hammer attack

January 28, 2019 Todd Maisel

ebrooklyn media/Photos by Todd Maisel

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Elected officials and community members gathered on Friday outside the Sheepshead Bay restaurant where three people were fatally attacked last week, calling on the Brooklyn district attorney’s office to declare the attack a hate crime.

Councilmember Margaret Chin said the assailant, identified by police as Arthur Martunovich, 34, targeted the Seaport Buffet on Emmons Avenue with “the goal to massacre Asians.”

“Let’s be clear, this is a racial hate crime,” Chin said.

Martunovich entered the restaurant on Jan. 15 with a hammer, allegedly targeting the Asian men working there after seeing a movie about mistreatment of Asian women. The attack led to the death of chef Faui Pun, owner Kheon Ng-Thang and manager Tsz Mat Pun.

Martunovich was taken into custody just blocks away from the restaurant and was charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder and three counts of criminal possession of a weapon. He has since been hospitalized in a psychiatric ward.

Councilmember Chaim Deutsch talks about bringing community together.“Our community has been shaken to the core,” said Councilmember Chaim Deutsch, who represents the area. “We are not here to shout about the senselessness of it all, but to represent our solidarity.”

Assemblymembers William Colton and Helene Weinstein, state Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Councilmember Mark Treyger were also among the politicians in attendance.

Additional reporting by Meaghan McGoldrick

For the full story, visit www.BrooklynEagle.com.