A man once convicted in a notorious series of attacks on elderly Oakland Chinatown residents is now accused of targeting two elderly women in a new case. The allegations bring Yahya Muslim back into the spotlight five years after the assaults that led to a six-year prison sentence.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that charges were filed against a 33-year-old Muslim, according to CBS San Francisco. Prosecutors say the women were attacked Sunday near Broadway and West Grand Avenue in Oakland. Muslim faces four felony counts: two counts of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and two counts of elder abuse.
The allegations echo Muslim’s 2021 case, when he was charged after three attacks in Oakland’s Chinatown, including the assault of a 91-year-old man captured on video. A 2021 CBS report said prosecutors also cited two prior felony assault convictions.
That earlier case unfolded as Oakland Chinatown was grappling with heightened concern over assaults and harassment targeting Asian residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Los Angeles Times reported that the 2021 attacks included the shoving of a 91-year-old man and an assault involving an older couple.
Why The Case Is Resonating In Oakland
Oakland’s Asian community has a long memory when it comes to attacks on older residents, and the latest allegations are likely to revive concerns about street safety. In a 2021 Hoodline report, community advocates described fear and anger after a series of violent incidents involving elderly people in and around Chinatown.
What Happens Next
Muslim is being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, according to CBS San Francisco. His next court appearances are a pretrial hearing next Friday and a preliminary hearing the following Thursday.
The new charges remain allegations, separate from Muslim’s earlier conviction, and have not been proven in court. The upcoming hearings will mark the next steps in determining how the case proceeds.
