An Asian grandmother was knocked unconscious in a random attack by a homeless man in Westchester County this week — the latest amid a recent surge of anti-Asian crimes, according to police.

Nancy Toh, 83, was attacked around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday outside the Westchester Mall in White Plains, as she collected bottles and cans for money, according to authorities and ABC 7.

Toh was approached that evening by a suspect who spit on her and punched her in the face, White Plains Police said. 

The blow knocked her to the ground, and she hit the back of her head and blacked out, cops said.

A good Samaritan came to her aid before she came to her senses. Her attacker took off.

“Bleeding lots from the brain,” Toh told the station in Korean. “Looks like pumping out.”

The octogenarian’s daughter Linda Toh said her mother waited a day to report the crime, as Asians are culturally taught to remain silent and move forward.


  Toh said the assailant came up to her and spat in her face before socking her in the nose. ABC7 Toh said the assailant came up to her and spat in her face before socking her in the nose. ABC7

She also didn’t want to go to the hospital out of concern about the medical bills. 

But a day after Nancy Toh made the report, her alleged attacker, 40-year-old Glenmore Nembherd, who is homeless, was arrested, police said.

He was arraigned Friday and ordered held without bail at the Westchester County Jail.

Nembherd has a history of violence, ABC reported.

“An incident like this — we throw all our resources at it,” White Plains police Capt. James Spencer told the station. “This was a very disturbing and serious incident that occurred in a safe city. And it’s one that we won’t tolerate.”


  Nancy Toh’s daughter Linda Toh said her mother waited a day to report the crime. ABC7 Nancy Toh’s daughter Linda Toh said her mother waited a day to report the crime. ABC7

At this point, there’s no clear evidence that the attack was a hate crime, though detectives are pursuing all angles.

White Plains Mayor Tom Roach described the police response as “all hands on deck.”

“Our detectives worked diligently and I am pleased that an arrest was swiftly made,” he said. “While I cannot comment on the specifics of the case at this time, as it is now in the hands of the District Attorney, we are a diverse community and we celebrate that diversity. We condemn acts of violence and hatred and will not tolerate them in our community.”

The attack comes amid a slew of recent attacks on Asian Americans in the Big Apple and elsewhere. 

“I didn’t think it was so close to home,” Linda Toh told ABC 7. “And now I’m afraid to go out and my kid is afraid to go out.”


  Nancy Toh was attacked outside the Westchester Mall in White Plains. ABC7 Nancy Toh was attacked outside the Westchester Mall in White Plains. ABC7

Meanwhile, the elderly victim, who has lived through three wars, told the station she simply wants peace.

“She’s a Christian and I’m a Christian so we want to forgive this man,” her daughter said.

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