A convicted sex offender who was accused of mocking a man in the streets of the Bronx,causing a brain hemorrhage requiring surgery, was charged Thursday with attempted murder. decreased in unprovoked attacks released without bail.
Bui Van Phu, 55, instead The Bronx District Attorney's Office found both assault and harassment misdemeanor charges for a brutal knockout punch that knocked a 52-year-old victim unconscious on the street last Friday, according to the criminal complaint.
A Bronx DA spokesman said the new charges were not subject to bail, and a Bronx judge released Pugh under supervision on Thursday's arraignment.
The NYPD charged Pooh with attempted murder after arresting him on Wednesday.
The complaint against Phu alleged that he confessed the crime to a parole officer.
"I hit someone. He's in the hospital. I don't know if he's dead. Police are looking for me, according to the complaint," he said.
Fu and the victim did not know each other and there appeared to have been no interaction between them prior to the beating, police said.
The victim, shown in surveillance footage with a backpack, was killed at around 10:45 p.m. at Fordham Manor's Grand His Tipico on East 188th Street near the concourse of Fordham Manor. was leaving the restaurant. when he stopped near a group of people chatting outside on August 12th.
He was followed by a bald-headed man in a black T-shirt. After wearing what appeared to be gloves, the man randomly slammed the victim from behind, causing him to fall onto the pavement and hit him on the head. You can see the footage released on Wednesday.
DA's office did not comment on why Phu was hit with a lower fee instead of the attempted murder rap where he was first slapped
Phu was convicted of first-degree sexual abuse in 1995 for molesting a 17-year-old girl. He was sentenced to his six-year life sentence and was released on parole in 2019, according to state records.
He is currently registered as a Level 3 sex offender, the most serious designation.
The victim was taken to Jacobi Medical Center with a fractured skull, a fractured cheekbone and a cerebral hemorrhage, authorities said.
He required brain surgery and is currently in a medically induced coma, according to authorities.
