Overview
- Watson, 24, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and assault and was acquitted of murder.
- The unprovoked shove that felled 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee was captured on a neighbor’s security camera, and he died two days later.
- Prosecutors did not bring hate-crime charges, though the family maintains the attack was racially motivated.
- Watson testified he was in a haze of confusion and anger and said he did not recognize the victim’s age or race.
- The case became a touchpoint in the Stop Asian Hate movement during a period when advocacy groups documented thousands of incidents targeting Asian Americans.