Filipino victim, 65, injured in violent carjacking

The victim was taken to Highland Hospital in Oakland for his injuries. SCREENSHOT NBC

OAKLAND, California – A Filipino American man, 65, was hospitalized after falling victim to a violent carjacking just blocks away from his home last week.

The victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, was allegedly attacked at gunpoint outside a FoodMaxx grocery store. He was injured as he resisted the seizure of his vehicle. The victim, a Lyft driver, relies on his car as his only source of income.

The suspect stole the victim’s white Toyota Corolla with California license plate 8GMA097. As of this writing, the suspect remains at large.

“He was hit over the head with a gun and he was trying to stop him from taking his car. So, he put his body to get in the way of getting inside the vehicle and the person took off with his car and dragged his body in the parking lot,” Sara Guillermo, the victim’s niece, told NBC Bay Area.

“While they were trying to steal his car, they thought he was Chinese, so they were talking about COVID and being an Asian American in America,” she said.

Police have yet to determine whether the crime was motivated by hate.

Guillermo said that her uncle is afraid that his attacker might return for him.