Los Angeles – Prosecutors have charged a 30-year-old woman with severely beating and injuring a 92-year-old man in what initially appeared to be a racially motivated assault.
However, authorities now say the attack that left Rodolfo Rodriguez severely injured was not racist even though a witness stated a woman hitting him with a brick was shouting “go back home” or “go back to Mexico.”
“On July 4th at around 7pm, my grandfather Rodolfo Rodriguez whose 92 years of age was going for his daily walk around the block when he was assaulted by and African American lady and five other guys. He is doing really bad, has a lot of bruises on his face and a broken cheekbone,” said his grandson Erik Mendoza on a “gofundme” page where thousands have sent sympathies and topped the original target of fund-raising by tens of thousands.
The family had initially asked for $15,000 but the fund has reached over $300,000.
“A 30-year-old woman was charged today with severely injuring an elderly man with a brick in Willowbrook last week,” the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced. It appears the old man angered his alleged attacker because he accidentally bumped into a child who the attacker was accompanying.
“Laquisha Jones of Los Angeles has been charged with two counts in case: attempted murder and elder abuse, infliction of injury,” the district attorney’s office said.
Prosecutors are asking that bail be set at $1.125 million.
“The felony complaint includes special allegations that the defendant personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon, a brick, during the commission of the crime and that she committed great bodily injury upon the victim.”
Additionally, the charging document alleges that Jones was previously convicted of making criminal threats in 2017.
Prosecutors said on the evening of July 4, Jones allegedly attacked a 92-year-old man with a brick near 118th and Robin streets in Willowbrook.
“Following the reported assault, the victim was taken to the hospital for medical treatment and Jones allegedly fled the scene,” according to prosecutors.
After conducting further investigation, law enforcement identified Jones as the alleged assailant and arrested her on July 10, prosecutors added.
If convicted as charged, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 29 years in state prison. The case is being investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
