Northeast DC

Suspect Arrested in Attack on Asian Business Owner in Northeast DC

NBC Universal, Inc.

Police arrested a suspect in the assault of an Asian business owner May 4 in Northeast D.C.

Samuel Delwyn Thomas, 30, of Cockeysville, Maryland, was arrested Thursday and charged with aggravated assault.

Chong Hu Lu, owner of Max Trading, said a customer was upset that he doesn’t allow opening items in the store.

The customer punched him in the face, Lu said. The attack was caught on surveillance video.

β€œ'F*** you, Chinese people. I hate you,'” the customer said, according to Lu.

His wife, Cong Cong Hu, stepped in and tried to help, the surveillance video shows.

β€œI was so scared. What if the guy go crazy, have a gun or knife? I don’t know what would happen, so I’m so scared,” Hu said.

Lu had to go to the hospital, where he got 14 stitches.

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