Prosecutors said Jimmie Patrick yelled anti-Asian slurs before stabbing a man in the U-District on Jan. 31.
SEATTLE — King County Prosecutors have charged two people accused of stabbing a man in the University District last week.
Jimmie Patrick and Crystal Gibson were both charged with first-degree assault in connection to the Jan. 31 stabbing of a man at NE 45th Street and University Way.
Patrick, however, is charged with a hate crime after court documents said he said anti-Asian slurs before the stabbing.
King County prosecutors said when it comes to hate crimes, anti-Asian crimes are the second most common with two already making its way through the courts this year.
For prosecutors, hate crimes can be challenging.
“Hate crimes are difficult because before you charge it, you have to show the intent,” said Casey McNerthney with the King County Prosecutor’s Office.
He said, this case however, was clear cut.
According to charging documents, an Asian man was sitting in the passenger’s seat of a van parked in an alley waiting for his friend. Documents said Crystal Gibson banged a cart into the van, then Jimmie Patrick demanded the victim move the van.
Police said Patrick started yelling anti-Asian slurs and referred to himself as a skinhead.
The victim told police he got out of the van to check for damage and confront Patrick about his words. Documents said Patrick threw rocks at the victim then stabbed him in the chest while Gibson pinned the victim’s arms.
“Anytime you have a hate crime it…
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