WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 (UPI) — A Texas man was sentenced to six years in federal prison after he committed a “knockout game” hate-crime assault on an 81-year-old black man.
Conrad Alvin Barrett was 27 when he attacked the elderly man in 2013 while the man was walking near his home in Katy, Texas, breaking his jaw in two places. Barrett pleaded guilty to a hate crime in June, admitting on Nov. 24, 2013, he attacked the man because of his race. He recorded the attack on his cellphone.
Barrett was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence and pay $2,000 in restitution.
“The defendant committed this shocking and violent assault against this vulnerable elderly man simply because he was African American,” Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division, said. “The Department of Justice will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the rights of victims of violent crimes are vindicated.”
Investigators said Barrett calmly approached the elderly man, only identified in court papers as R.C., offered a seemingly friendly greeting and then punched him squarely in the face.
In recordings of the attack, Barrett made racist remarks and claimed he would not hit “defenseless people” just moments before punching the elderly man. Barrett was seen on the video laughing as he said “knockout” while running to his car. The elderly man’s daughter said he has been reclusive since the attack, “murmurs” when he speaks and has ongoing pain in his face.
